45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd.

Early Learning & Child Care Consulting + Online ECE Workshops

A List.ly of the East Kootenay Conversations on Child Care

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East Kootenay Child Care - List.lyAbout the Conversations

In August & September I’m having conversations with folks who are concerned about child care issues in the East Kootenay Region of BC.  This is part of the East Kootenay Child Care Needs Assessment Project that I’m currently consulting on.  I’ve created a List.ly of the conversations that have already been released and will be adding to it over the next few weeks.

What Am I Learning?

During the conversations I have been learning a lot about the challenges that rural regions are facing with respect to access to quality child care programs and services.  Folks have told me stories about situations that concern them, people having to leave communities due to child care shortages and why child care is an important part of economic development in small communities.
You can learn more about the East Kootenay Conversations On Child Care by visiting this conversation booking page.

Talking Child Care in the East Kootenay Region of BC with Patricia Whalen

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Patricia Whalen

I’m talking about child care with people who live and work in the East Kootenay region of BC, Canada as part of the East Kootenay Conversations On Child Care. Recently I jumped into a Google+ Hangout with Patricia Whalen who is the Children First Manager for the region to discuss the Child Care Needs Assessment Project that is currently underway. Patricia has 4 boys and has been happily married for 24 years. We had a great discussion that covered a lot of different aspects of early learning and child care issues for the region.

East Kootenay Conversations On Child Care – Key Thoughts

Below are some key thoughts from Patricia Whalen –

Province wide; lack of child care has been a huge issue.

It (child care) affects the community as a whole.

When they (families) hear that the child care wait lists are huge they opt out of locating here.

Highlights from this #45Conversations Hangout

  • How the Child Care Needs Assessment project started – 1.04
  • About the East Kootenay region – 4.15
  • Families cannot locate into East Kootenay region due to child care issues – 7.00
  • About the Child Care Needs Assessment project & social media – 9.03
  • Starting the conversation – 10.40
  • Understanding the issues – 13.10