Early childhood educators (ECEs) and child care professionals create safe, nurturing environments where children can grow, learn and build the foundations for lifelong well-being. This month celebrates the care, skill and dedication they bring to supporting children, families and communities every day.
Across our four child care centres, our team of 40 staff support up to 120 children each year through play-based learning that sparks curiosity, builds confidence and supports healthy emotional development from the earliest years.
YWCA Early Childhood Educators from our four Early Learning and Child Care Centres: Emma's, Leslie Diamond, Citygate and Crabtree Corner
YWCA BC ECEs are professionally trained and continually growing their expertise. Their work goes far beyond providing care. They help shape early development, strengthen emotional resilience, and create stability and support for both children and families during some of the most important stages of life.
To celebrate, we spoke with educators across our child care centres to share the real and lasting difference they make in the lives of children, families and communities.
Kelcey Lidstone
Emma’s ELCC educator
How long have you been at the Y?
I have been at the Y for just over nine years.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
I think it was working as part of the emergency child care team during the early days of COVID. It was a scary time and I felt proud that I was a part of that team providing care for some of the frontline workers’ children. I was also able to take the policies and procedures that we created back to Citygate Early Learning and Child Care Centre when we were finally able to reopen our regular centres.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I think the thing I love most about working in child care is the feeling of community it brings and the relationships I get to build with not just the children but their families as well.
What is something that people may not know about your job?
Although working with children is one of the most rewarding jobs I've worked, it also can at times be very physically and mentally demanding. Our job is not just play; there is a lot of skill that goes into guiding and caring for young children.
Jessica Kelly
Emma’s ELCC educator
How long have you been at the Y?
I have had the pleasure of being a part of the Y since January 2025. I started in a substitute position, and was able to become permanent staff a few months later. I am very grateful for this.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment at the Y has been finding and establishing a relationship with a team that I am proud and honoured to work alongside with. While I was in school for the ECE diploma (from 2021-2024), I already had a sense of the kind of organization and team that I hoped to be a part of. Finding that aligned feeling in a centre at the Y has been such a gift.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is the meaningful, deep and reciprocal connections that are built with the children we work with. When I am able to slow down and really connect with the children, it is a feeling unlike any other!
What is something that people may not know about your job?
Something people may not know about the job of being an Early Childhood Educator is how much things change on a daily basis. I think to be in this kind of role one has to be willing to be very adaptable, open and flexible to change. The children are growing and changing every day, and to provide great quality care I believe it is essential to meet the children where they are in their changes. I am grateful for this aspect of the work as it teaches me so much everyday.
The impact of early childhood educators is felt not only by children, but by families and across communities. We spoke with one YWCA child care family to hear their experience.
Joscelyn
Joscelyn is a single mom whose daughter has been attending Leslie Diamond for over a year.
What positive changes have you noticed in your child since starting child care?
Being around trusted caregivers has really allowed her to blossom. She is so outgoing, when she says goodbye she gives all the caregivers a hug. It's very sweet to see.
What do you appreciate most about your child’s experience at daycare?
Just knowing that she is in excellent hands. When I drop her off before heading to work, she is comfortable and learning a lot at the centre.
How has access to child care supported your work, school or daily routine?
Having access has been such a major factor in allowing me to go to back to work full time after maternity leave...Having this full-time child care gives me the opportunity and time to make the choice and participate in society not just as a mom, but as part of the workforce.
In what ways has child care made a difference for your family?
Having a $10-a-day child care has been a significant saving for my family. Financially, I wish every family could say that they have it. This contributes to so much in our personal lives. Instead of spending $1,000 on child care, I can put money into my RRSP and buy additional learning tools and experiences that myself, my daughter and my extended family can participate in.
These enriching activities I would think twice about if I had to pay full price for child care, which of course contributes to overall happiness in life. Being able to afford child care means I can afford other things in a city where everything is getting more and more unaffordable.
How has affordable child care supported your work and education? Why do you think it's important?
It's a lifeline for single parents...I truly understand when people say it takes a village to raise a child. At this point in history, there is so little of a village, because we are in a city where you are not in close proximity to extended families, not many friends, there are so many reasons why one doesn’t have access. So, a paid village, with affordable child care, is so essential.
I know that two-parent households struggle with the cost of child care, and even they are just trying to get by. As a solo parent, I have to make all of the decisions, do all of the work. As I have access to a centre that is available with great hours, 7:30am-5:30pm, it gives me that time to fully focus on what I need to do during the day, so I can be a better mom outside work hours.
Having access to this child care for me as a single parent is invaluable. My life would have looked very different if I didn’t have this child care.
Can you share a meaningful moment or story about your experience accessing child care?
When she started gradual entry, my daughter had a tough time with transition. She took longer than the usual gradual entry, which was difficult. But when I look at her now, and how secure she is with herself. For example, she is always curious about the baby side because she misses the staff. The way she smiles and waves goodbye to all the staff there, is truly heartwarming. She went from being a crying child who didn’t want me to leave, to wanting to stay at the centre.
Thank you to our ECEs for your dedication, care and commitment. Every day, you make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, families and communities. ♥
Learn more about our early learning and child care centres and how to apply here.
A special thank you from our Child Care Leadership and Admin Team
