Welcome to the October 2026 Newsletter!

Building Belonging Through the School Year

As autumn arrives and child care programs settle into their rhythms and routines, October offers an opportunity to focus on belonging as children are becoming more comfortable in their learning environments. Whether welcoming new children, supporting families through transitions, or strengthening connections among colleagues, creating spaces where everyone feels respected and valued for who they are is at the heart of quality early learning.

A strong sense of belonging helps children feel confident to explore, learn, and build relationships. Creating spaces where every child and family feels seen and included is ongoing work, shaped by everyday interactions, thoughtful environments, and meaningful partnerships as part of every curriculum. 

Here in BC, we can rely on British Columbia Early Learning Framework. A foundational resource that places well-being and belonging at the centre of children's learning. The framework offers reflective questions and practical approaches for creating inclusive, culturally responsive environments where every child feels valued. It supports reflective practice, aligns with BC's pedagogical approach and provides guidance on relationships, identity, culture, and inclusion.

In Ontario we have ECE Mentorship That Sees You: Belonging, Boundaries, and Staying in the Work. Published by the Canadian Child Care Federation, this article explores how belonging is important not only for children and families, but also for educators themselves. It focuses on educator well-being and retention, encourages supportive workplace cultures and highlights the importance of professional relationships. Additionally, How Does Learning Happen? Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years, is an influential Canadian resource which identifies belonging as one of four foundations for learning and development, emphasizing authentic relationships among children, families, and educators. It explores through rich reflective questions, it has a strong focus on relationship-based practice, and it is relevant across provinces and territories.

As we move further into this fall season, we invite you to reflect on the many ways belonging is nurtured in your practice. Whether through creating inclusive learning experiences, fostering family engagement, or supporting connections with the community, your work is valuable in helping build the foundations for thriving children with a love for curiosity and lifelong learning.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find professional learning opportunities, upcoming events, and podcast conversations designed to support and inspire your work in the early years sector. Thank you for all that you do to help children, families, and communities flourish. 

The WCCRC Team

Westcoast Training

Looking for a way to stay engaged with your peers and learn new skills? Check out the professional development courses happening at Westcoast!  
 

Our courses and workshops support the implementation of the BC Early Learning Framework, Schedule G of the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation and the Early Childhood Educators of BC Code of Ethics.

Create a free WCCRC account to register for our courses, workshops, access certificates and view your transaction receipts. Sign in or create a free WCCRC account to get started.

To view previous and upcoming workshops, visit our calendar page. Before registering, check out our Workshop FAQ's, Policies and Online Workshop Basics.

Have a look at our courses and workshops here.

View our upcoming workshops!

BC’s Path to Universal Child Care Podcast

The world of child care and early learning is constantly evolving, especially here in BC. Our monthly podcast brings together experts, thought leaders, and community voices to share insights, perspectives, and practical information that matter to parents, caregivers, educators, service providers, and students alike. Tune in and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of child care.

Subscribe to our newsletter here to receive the latest updates from Westcoast, including upcoming training opportunities, events, new podcast episodes, and important news from the child care and early learning sector across BC.

View our recent podcast episodes!

Westcoast Family Centres offers engaging workshops and groups that provide resources for parents and families in the Lower Mainland. Our programs range from parent education to parent support groups to activity programs for children. Our evidence-based programs and workshops are focused on strengthening your connection with your child and family, and foster connections with other families in your community.

Learn more about our upcoming groups offered this Fall on our events calendar, from Kindergarten Preparedness Group, Evening Family Resource Program, and other drop-in programs such as Baby & Me, Power of Play, Little Explorers and more!

View our upcoming workshops!

WELL News

This year our library had the pleasure of supporting a small part for an event at BC Women’s Hospital for their NICU families.  They created a sensory tent and used a number of resources from different areas of our library.  It was exciting to hear about the fun that was had, and to see the ways in which our toys were set up for exploration.

Check out our library hours of operation at our website, before coming by.

Learn more about our library

Community Partner News

The Reimagining Our Work (ROW Book Collection)

The ROW book collection is a series of stories written by early childhood educators that illuminate the pedagogical approach described in the foundational text From Teaching to Thinking.

This approach includes a commitment to social justice, deep listening, thoughtful meaning-making about children’s conversations, play, and representations, documentation that foregrounds educators’ thinking, anchored by a workplace culture of inquiry that promotes strong identities and learning for children and educators alike.

Use the The Reimagining Our Work (ROW) Book Collection to discover how early childhood educators in the field are reimagining their work and thinking alongside children in this innovative collection of stories. 

Government News

My ChildCareBC Services Platform  

My ChildCareBC Services was updated to a single, streamlined online platform where child care providers can manage Child Care Operating Funding, the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative, and Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement services in one place.

This update is part of ongoing work to strengthen and modernize child care systems, making it easier for operators to access and manage funding through a streamlined online platform. 

Find the Ministry of Education and Child Care YouTube Playlist here.

Learn more