Provincial Child Care Council

Tuesday brings extensive experience in child care policy and public advocacy. She currently serves as a National Representative with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and leads CUPE BC’s Seamless Childcare Now campaign. Tuesday’s work has connected her with early childhood educators, families, school districts, community groups, and child care advocates. She is deeply committed to building a just, accessible child care system that reflects the needs of families, honours the professionalism of educators and creates a system that truly works for British Columbians.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Kirsten Bevelander is the Co-Manager of the Aboriginal Child Care Resource and Referral Program for the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society and an instructor for the Early Childhood Education Program at Burnaby Community and Continuing Education. For over 30 years she has worked in non-profit settings with children, families, and educators including a wide variety of volunteer, front-line and senior leadership positions for agencies such as the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia, YWCA Metro Vancouver, the British Columbia Centre for Ability and UBC Child Care Services. Ms. Bevelander holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Vancouver Community College.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Julia is a faculty member and past coordinator of the Early Childhood Care and Education program at Capilano University.  She has worked with non-profit, private and Indigenous organizations as an early childhood educator, educator mentor and in the advocacy for and building of early childhood care and education facilities.  Previously, Ms. Black was the coordinator of a Children First and Success by 6 community mobilization project in the Sea to Sky Corridor. Her current work with future early childhood educators reflects her commitment to leadership and advocacy, the ethics of care and supporting relationships among educators and children and families within early childhood contexts. Ms. Black holds a Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University. She is currently studying Educational Neuroscience, focusing on adversity, trauma and the brain at Butler University, and pursuing a Doctor of Education at Western University in Educational Leadership.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Andrea Duncan is Vice President of Community Social Services (Component 3) with the British Columbia General Employees Union. She represents approximately 17,000 front line workers across the province. These workers include Early Childhood Educators, Early Childhood Assistants, School Age Educators, Child Care Resource and Referral workers, Supported Development and other allied professionals. She has a certificate in Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education and has a wide understanding of the issues facing workers and families.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Alberta and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University. His professional journey has always centered on building strong communities and advancing social equity.

Derek currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA YWCA of Vancouver Island. He is deeply committed to creating accessible, high-quality child care and believes that strong public systems are essential for supporting families, children and educators. With decades of experience in policy, advocacy and organizational leadership, he brings a collaborative approach to building sustainable solutions that strengthen communities.

Appointment Date: 01/12/2025

Dr. Daljit Gill-Badesha is a distinguished advocate and visionary business leader with over 25 years of experience driving impactful local and provincial initiatives. Her extensive experience spans across services for all ages, from children to seniors, with a steadfast commitment to fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and community leaders. This strategic leadership approach has resulted in transformative policies, programs, and strategies.

For nearly two decades, Daljit has been a cornerstone in the early childhood sector in Surrey and beyond, driving the development of innovative programs, service expansion, and policy improvements. She has collaborated with key stakeholders such as UBC-HELP and community stakeholders and influenced provincial and federal policies and funding that have set new standards in the field. Collaborating with South Asian community leaders and elders, she developed and disseminated multilingual toolkits, parenting resources, and live radio/TV shows, reaching tens of thousands of South Asians in BC and beyond, and emphasizing the critical importance of child development, parenting, and community resources.

Daljit’s governance acumen is further evidenced by her six-year tenure on the Provincial Child Care Council, and she is pleased to return as Chair of the Council. Furthermore, she was key in expanding childcare and afterschool services in the City of Surrey and establishing the first-ever Surrey Community Child Care Task Force. Her leadership, positioned at the nexus of multi-stakeholder collaboration, relational praxis, and democratic participation informed her doctoral thesis on power dynamics in supporting newcomer early childhood partnerships. Daljit also provides leadership on provincial anti-racism initiatives, in university classrooms, and as a consultant to businesses and nonprofits, exemplifying leadership excellence in all the spaces she serves. 

Appointment Date: 24/05/2024

Sheila has dedicated her career to early childhood education and leadership in the sector. She earned a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies with a Cultural Stream from Athabasca University, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Psychology and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba.

Since 2010, Sheila has been a Professor in Early Childhood Education and Care at Vancouver Island University, where she previously served as Program Chair for over a decade. With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, including teaching, research and leadership, she is deeply committed to advancing quality care and education for young children. Sheila believes that early childhood educators play a vital role in shaping confident, independent learners and is passionate about working collaboratively to strengthen programs and support families.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Kari-Ann is passionate about lifting up Indigenous children and ensuring they feel supported and cared for in every setting, from child care programs to schools. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and completed her Education Assistant training at Camosun College.

Kari-Ann currently serves as Director of Early Childhood Supports at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, and her previous roles include Manager and Consultant for Aboriginal Supported Child Development. Raised to be a strong Indigenous woman, Kari-Ann was taught her language, songs and dances and continues to pass these teachings on to her daughter. She values respect for elders, cultural traditions and the importance of listening and learning from one another. Kari-Ann’s deep commitment to Indigenous ways of life and advocacy for children drives her work every day.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Crystal has devoted her career to education and leadership in early learning and child care. She earned a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Administration from Gonzaga University. She also holds an Early Childhood Educator Assistant Certificate.

Crystal currently serves as Director of Instruction for Early Learning and Child Care with the Rocky Mountain School District. Her previous roles include District Vice Principal of Early Learning, Vice Principal at Selkirk Secondary School and leadership positions focused on curriculum implementation and student success. Crystal’s passion has always been creating equitable, inclusive environments where every child and family feel valued and supported. She believes that early learning plays a critical role in building strong communities and that educators have a responsibility to foster belonging and empower children to thrive.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Emily Mlieczko is the Executive Director for the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), where she leads the association to support advancement of the ECE profession.

Before starting in this position, Emily worked in rural BC in a variety of early years programs in both 100 Mile House and Prince Rupert.  After many rich experiences, including exposure to advocacy for the families she served, Emily decided to focus her attentions on the need to be a strong voice for the ECE sector. Her education, passion, understanding and commitment to make things better for children, families and educators continue to guide her in work today.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Londa lives in Creston, British Columbia, and is passionate about creating opportunities for families and children through community development and accessible child care. She graduated from Concordia University with a Master of Arts in Creative Arts Therapy and completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Toronto.

Londa currently serves as Director of Programs at Kootenay Employment Services. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Columbia Outdoor School and Blue Lake Camp, supporting youth leadership and outdoor education programs. With a strong background in program development and community engagement, Londa believes that accessible child care and employment services are essential for thriving communities. She is committed to working collaboratively to create programs that support families, empower individuals and build a stronger future for children.

Appointment Date: 01/12/2025

Cindy Page lives and works on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. She has been an Early Childhood Education Care Instructor for over 20 years and was a former Program Chair at Northern Lights College. She is a board member of the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Tribunal and the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC). She is certified as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia and has worked as a licensing officer, a Child Care Resource and Referral consultant and in direct care including licensed family and small group child care. She was a recipient of ECEBC’s Gayle Davies Award, has a diploma in Child and Youth Care and a Masters of Learning and Technology.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Danielle Sayers-Jimeno is a qualified Early Childhood Educator and Child and Youth Care professional who has been supporting children and families for over 30 years. She presently works as the Director of Early Years, within the Ministry of Education, at Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) and has previous experience in a variety of settings, including organizational roles leading staff teams, as well as experience working with children who have neuro-diverse backgrounds and children and their families who have complex trauma histories. Ms. Jimeno has a Bachelor's of Child and Youth Care, from the University of Victoria, in the specialty stream of the Early Years, as well as a diploma in Early Childhood Education with her Infant Toddler and Special Needs certification. Ms. Jimeno is Métis and has recently applied for her Métis Citizenship through MNBC.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Kelsey Stuckert, J.D., is a Senior Advisor in Legal and Intergovernmental Policy with the District of North Vancouver, where she provides strategic legal and policy advice on municipal governance, Indigenous relations and legislative implementation. She brings experience in municipal, administrative and Aboriginal law, with a focus on advancing practical, community-centered solutions within complex public-sector environments. Kelsey is committed to collaborative policy development that supports strong families and equitable access to services.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

Tyler Summers is Principle at The Summers Life Creative Inc, a creative agency with a focus on learning spaces and education. Mr. Summers is also an Early Childhood Care and Education Instructor for Vancouver Community College and a Freelance Educator Consultant. Active in his community, he is Chair of the Vancouver Community College ECCE Program Advisory Committee. Previously Mr. Summers was Chair of School Age Child Care Association of British Columbia and a Co-Chair of Vancouver Middle School Matters Steering Committee. He holds an Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Eric is passionate about creating practical and innovative solutions for housing and child care policy. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science. His career has been dedicated to public interest work, with a strong focus on policy development and community advocacy.

Eric is a Principal at Third Space Planning, where he works with municipalities and organizations across Canada to develop strategies for housing, child care and community planning. He brings an intersectional approach to policy and planning, combining research, engagement and innovative thinking to deliver solutions that work for communities. He is also a member of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. Eric believes that strong public systems and thoughtful planning are essential for building equitable, sustainable communities and is committed to working collaboratively with partners to create policies that support families, children and future generations.

Appointment Date: 01/10/2025

James Teng is the Director of Little Koala Montessori Academy and the Executive Director of Canadian Southwestern College. Teng has over a decade of experience in operating childcare facilities in the Lower Mainland. James is passionate about the Montessori philosophy and has been training Montessori educators through his teacher training program in recent years. He is a member of the American Montessori Society and the Early Childhood Educators of BC. Teng holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Business from Monash University in Australia. 

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Calvin Tse is a globally experienced business leader having gathered expertise in high-tech, banking, and healthcare industries. He is a founding member of the Organic Early Learning organization and currently serving in the role of General Manager. Calvin found his passion in education and early childhood development after meeting like-minded parents and educators who felt strongly about setting higher standards for child care. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University, and is an alumni of the Executive MBA program at Queen's University. Among his personal interests, Calvin enjoys exploring all over the province of BC through highways and Forestry Service Roads alike, and he is also a golf nut on an endless pursuit to play golf courses all around the world.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Taya Whitehead is the Vice President of Education & Students at Selkirk College. Ms. Whitehead has over 20 years’ experience as an Early Childhood Educator and Adult Educator. Previously, she worked as a Supported Child Development Consultant and a Human Services/Early Childhood Care and Education Instructor for Selkirk College. Active in her community, Ms. Whitehead sits on several not-for-profit boards and volunteers in community organizations. She is also the Chair for Canadian Child Care Federation. Previously, she was President of Early Childhood Educators of BC. Ms. Whitehead received the Gaye Davies Award from Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia. In addition to being an Early Childhood Educator, she holds a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies Adult Education and Community Studies from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria. Most recently, Taya completed a certificate in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion from the University of British Columbia.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Bev Young is a recently retired Superintendent of Schools in British Columbia, having concluded her career in the South Okanagan. With 40 years of dedicated service in British Columbia public education, she has held a wide range of leadership roles and is committed to student success, system improvement and community partnership. Bev played a key role in establishing British Columbia’s first Seamless Day Kindergarten program – an innovative model designed to better support young learners in classrooms and working families. She also supported the development, expansion and strengthening of school district–operated before- and- after school care programs, increasing access for students and families. Her extensive experience spans district operations, strategic planning, governance, policy development, labour relations and board relations.  In retirement, Bev continues to contribute to public education by mentoring emerging and newly appointed educational leaders across British Columbia.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021