May is Childcare Month in British Columbia! Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS) would like to acknowledge and honour childcare workers, women, families, and community organisations for their pivotal role in re-imagining and designing a better future for our children. Now more than ever, we celebrate their dedication, care, and enormous contributions towards a more inclusive, accessible, and affordable childcare system.
Childcare Month is also a time to reflect on the path ahead. While we know there’s still a lot of work to be done, we want to highlight the huge milestones achieved to date and the inspiring success stories in the childcare sector.
As part of PIRS’ new initiative—Building a Childcare System that Works for Refugee and Immigrant Women—funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, we’ve convened immigrant and refugee women with lived experiences in childcare to amplify their voices and influence systemic change.
The Childcare Leadership Group (CLG) is eager to share their powerful stories and ideas to help shape a childcare system that works for immigrant and refugee women and their children.
Caring for childcare workers
Mireille, a young mom to a baby girl, shares her thoughts on the importance of valuing the job of childcare workers.
“We should respect and care about childcare staff. They spend so much time with our children and keep them safe. I think it is important to improve access to childcare training and increase their wages, so they are happy and well when taking care of our children.”
Merita, an aspiring childcare provider, talks about her dream childcare system and her commitment to children and their families.
“My dream universal childcare system welcomes multicultural, multilingual, and diverse families. It focuses on the well-being and growth of children. I would like to dedicate my time to create an environment for children to grow healthy, and to provide a creative, reliable, and safe learning environment”
“One size does not fit all”
Mothers and childcare workers from our CLG group also reflected on the need for adaptable services and what quality childcare looks like.
“Quality childcare means having a community that looks after children and families.” – Miriam
“We have vegetarians, people who love meat, and some with other preferences… Our childcare system needs to adapt to the changing needs of children and their families. By organising across the common goal to improve the childcare system, despite our differences, we can help communities achieve long-lasting and impactful systemic change.” – Dana
Physical access to childcare:
“Access to childcare is extremely important –especially [for] those outside of the urban area. I think they should build more childcare centers closer to public transportation.” – Mireille
The CLG continues to share their experiences across different settlement journeys and interactions with the childcare system. We hope to share more powerful stories with you soon!
PIRS is also excited to announce our Pathways to Childcare Careers program. We have been offering this program and looking forward to continuing doing so, in partnership with Vancouver Community College, to provide accessible training for immigrant and refugee women who are interested in working in the childcare sector. It reduces barriers to obtaining certifications and getting employed by offering comprehensive training, English language skills support, employment counselling, as well as work experience at no cost to the participants.
Moreover, with the COVID-19 lockdown and the labour shortage for childcare workers, PIRS identified the need for a Substitute Staffing Solution model. This model supports the childcare system by providing training for immigrant women, facilitating their entry to the labour market, and contributing experienced and qualified substitute staff.
Immigrant and refugee women are at the heart of everything we do. Let’s continue to advocate for universal childcare with more $10aDay facilities across the province, a wage grid for childcare workers, and the well-being and happiness of children and their families.
We’d like to thank and recognize the incredible work of our partners and funders including Women and Gender Equality Canada, the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC, West Coast Childcare Resource Centre, Women’s Economic Council, City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Community College.