Welcome to the September 2026 Newsletter!

September's Gentle Return

As September arrives, many of us find ourselves transitioning from the relaxed pace of summer into new routines. After weeks of sunny adventures, family time, and moments spent outdoors, children are beginning new journeys in child care, and kindergarten. It is an exciting season of growth, but it can also be a time when both children and adults benefit from slowing down, taking a deep breath, and gently settling into the rhythms of learning and belonging.

The early years are filled with remarkable discoveries. Every day, children learn through play, relationships, questions, and exploration. As they build confidence, make new connections, and navigate new environments, they rely on the caring adults around them to create spaces where they feel safe, valued, and supported. These precious years pass quickly, and September offers an opportunity for us to pause and relish the wonder of watching children develop as they explore the world around them.

This month, we invite families and educators to reflect on how children's rights can be woven into everyday moments. Supporting children's rights does not need to be complicated. It can begin with simple, thoughtful actions rooted in four guiding principles: treating every child fairly and with respect, ensuring children have what they need to grow and thrive, asking ourselves whether our decisions are truly in children's best interests, and listening to children's perspectives when decisions affect them Link: Society for Children and Youth of BC_guiding_principles_poster.

As we reflect on children's rights this September, it is also important to recognize Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. This day honours residential school survivors, their families, and communities, and invites all of us to learn about the lasting impacts of residential schools and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation, as well as their resilience in the face of systemic discrimination. Children's rights and reconciliation are deeply connected. By treating every child with respect, ensuring they have opportunities to thrive, listening to their voices, and acting in their best interests, we help create environments where all children can feel a sense of belonging, identity, and safety. 

As we welcome the new season and settle into the months ahead with patience, and a renewed commitment to making children's rights part of everything we do, let's continue finding ways to honour Indigenous cultures and perspectives, and   create spaces where every child feels valued, heard, and included. May we find joy in learning alongside children and celebrating the many ways they help us see the world with fresh eyes. 

The WCCRC Team

Westcoast Training

As we look ahead to another exciting month of professional learning, we are pleased to share updates, reminders, and opportunities from the Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre (WCCRC) Professional Development Team.

Welcoming New Presenters 

We are delighted to welcome several new presenters to our workshop team. Their expertise, fresh perspectives, and commitment to supporting the early learning and child care sector continue to enrich our professional development offerings and provide valuable learning experiences for educators throughout British Columbia.

Renewing Our Partnership with Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS)

We are pleased to continue our partnership with Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS) through its Pathways to Child Care Careers program. This initiative supports women in developing job-specific skills for careers in early learning and child care. Cohort 12 of the Responsible Adult Course starts on September 15.

We look forward to supporting learners as they begin their journey in the child care profession.

Reminder: Access Free Leadership Resources

Have you explored the Administration and Management for Child Care Knowledge Base?

This free resource is designed to support child care leaders, administrators, supervisors, and educators with practical information on:

• Governance
• Human resources
• Financial management
• Organizational leadership

If you interested in taking the whole course, please follow the link: AMCC :: Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

Positive Feedback from Participants

One of the highlights of our professional development program continues to be the positive feedback we receive from participants. Educators consistently tell us they value:

• Practical strategies that can be immediately applied in their programs
• Engaging and knowledgeable facilitators
• Meaningful opportunities to connect and learn with peers
• Relevant content that supports ongoing professional growth

We are grateful for the enthusiasm, engagement, and dedication of our learning community. Your participation helps create dynamic learning environments that benefit educators, children, and families alike.

Continue Your Professional Learning Journey

Looking for new opportunities to learn, connect, and grow professionally? WCCRC offers a variety of courses and workshops designed to support educators in their practice.

Our professional development opportunities support the implementation of:

 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

A free CCRC account allows you to register for our courses, workshops, access certificates and view your transaction receipts.

Sign in or create a free WCCRC account to get started.

Explore Upcoming Workshops:

To view previous and upcoming workshops, visit our calendar page. 

Before registering, check out our Workshop FAQ's, Policies and Online Workshop Basics.

View our upcoming workshops!

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

 

Transit Tricks and Tips!

We’ve once again had the pleasure of being gifted materials from TransLink, to support all of the car free modes of transportation in our city, from busses, to the Skytrain, to the SeaBus, as well as the extensive network of walking and bicycle paths that so many of our coworkers and patrons already use.  We also have a new dramatic play kit to practice riding public transit.  Here’s to more people exploring a variety of ways to get from one point to another within their means and abilities!

Whatever path you’re heading on, consider taking a book or two (or three or four!) to read along the journey.  At the WELL, we have books on different means of transportation, the great outdoors, and the adventures in our heads.

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

Learn more about our library!

For Parents & Guardians

 

Brain-Based Learning

In a June 24, 2020 Edutopia article by associate professor in the School of Education at Baylor University Rishi Sriram, he explores why rich experiences for children 2-7 years of age —from play to the arts and relationships—fundamentally shape a young child’s development, and how these matter so much for brain development.

“Young children need to enjoy the process of learning instead of focusing on performance. Educators and parents can emphasize the joys of trying new activities and learning something novel. We need to help children understand that mistakes are a welcome, normal part of learning.”

Learn more

Community Partner News

 

Nurturing Excellence in Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care since 1996: Congratulations BCACCS

As BCACCS celebrates 30 years of service, we join in recognizing and honouring this remarkable milestone. For three decades, BCACCS has supported generations of Indigenous children, families, educators, and communities across British Columbia, helping to strengthen connections to culture, language, and community through Indigenous-led early learning and child care.

This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the vision, dedication, and leadership of those who have shaped BCACCS's journey over the years. Their commitment has created lasting impacts for countless families and communities and has helped advance a future where Indigenous children can learn, grow, and thrive while remaining deeply connected to their cultural identities.

Westcoast is grateful for BCACCS's ongoing leadership in strengthening Indigenous self-determination and supporting access to high-quality, culturally grounded programs for Indigenous children and families across the province.

Congratulations to everyone at BCACCS on this incredible achievement. We are honoured to celebrate alongside you and look forward to the continued impact your work will have for generations to come. 

Watch the BCACCS' Creation Story, 30th Anniversary Spotlight Video here.

September is FASD Awareness Month

September 9 is International FASD Awareness Day.  CanFASD has developed a number of pick-up and go resources that communities or organizations may find helpful.  The theme this year is, ‘Everyone Plays a Part: It takes a community.’  There is a focus on FASD prevention and on those who have this common disability.  
 
How to Get Involved

If you or your agency would like to get involved, explore the FASD Month toolkit at the bottom of the CanFASD page, for ready-to-use resources, social media content, and materials to support your awareness efforts.

Government News

 

Decommissioning the EYPD Portal

On July 9, 2026, the Ministry advised that the Early Years Professional Development (EYPD) Portal will be decommissioned effective September 2026. The Ministry is exploring alternative ways to preserve the most valuable features of the Portal, including maintaining visibility of provincial learning opportunities, enhance awareness and accessibility to professional development for Early Childhood Professionals.

ECEs looking for professional development opportunities, continue to visit your local CCRR’s website.

 

My ChildCareBC Services Platform Launch 

On July 30, 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 replaced the Child Care Web Application and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement Reporting Tool. 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 single, streamlined online platform. We will continue to share updates and resources as new information becomes available.

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

Learn more