Early Learning and Child Care Summit

The Ministry of Education and Child Care held the 2023 Early Learning and Child Care Summit on Friday, October 13, 2023, for an innovative dialogue with top provincial leaders from child care, business and community.

Summary of the event

This year’s theme, Supporting a child care ecosystem, invited delegates to engage in a meaningful discussion on working together to build quality early learning and child care as a core service that families can rely on. From the child care sector, business sector, local governments, K-12 sector, community and social services agencies, and more, everyone has a role to play in supporting access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care.

The Summit was facilitated by Kathryn Gretsinger. The below International, Canadian and local child care experts participated as keynote speakers, panellists and workshop facilitators.

• Jane Beach
• Devinder Chattha
• Don Giesbrecht
• Dr. Daljit Gill-Badesha
• Sharon Gregson
• Sue Irwin
• Karen Isaac
• Sue Sterling-Bur
• Sharlene Wedel

Summit attendees participated in their choice of two workshops. The workshops where rooted in the landscape of child care in British Columbia, and focused on specific aspects of the sector. The four workshop topics were:

• Enhancing Inclusion: Strengthening Community
• Indigenous Child Care and Reconciliation
• Innovation in Recruitment and Retention
• Innovation in Space Creation

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