Provincial Child Care Council

Kirsten Bevelander is the Co-Manager of the Aboriginal Child Care Resource and Referral Program for the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society and an instructor for the Early Childhood Education Program at Burnaby Community and Continuing Education. For over 30 years she has worked in non-profit settings with children, families, and educators including a wide variety of volunteer, front-line and senior leadership positions for agencies such as the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia, YWCA Metro Vancouver, the British Columbia Centre for Ability and UBC Child Care Services. Ms. Bevelander holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Vancouver Community College.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Julia is a faculty member and coordinator of the Early Childhood Care and Education program at Capilano University.  She has worked with non-profit, private and Indigenous organizations as an early childhood educator, educator mentor, and in the advocacy for and building of early childhood care and education facilities.  Previously, Ms. Black was the Coordinator of a Children First and Success by 6 community mobilization project in Sea to Sky Corridor. Her current work with future early childhood educators reflects her commitment to leadership and advocacy, the ethics of care and supporting relationships among educators, children and families within early childhood contexts. Ms. Black holds an Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University. Current graduate work focuses on the relationship worlds of infants and toddlers and the influence of cultural values and beliefs on pedagogical practice.  

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Dr. Daljit Gill-Badesha is a distinguished advocate and visionary business leader with over 25 years of experience driving impactful local and provincial initiatives. Her extensive experience spans across services for all ages, from children to seniors, with a steadfast commitment to fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and community leaders. This strategic leadership approach has resulted in transformative policies, programs, and strategies.

For nearly two decades, Daljit has been a cornerstone in the early childhood sector in Surrey and beyond, driving the development of innovative programs, service expansion, and policy improvements. She has collaborated with key stakeholders such as UBC-HELP and community stakeholders and influenced provincial and federal policies and funding that have set new standards in the field. Collaborating with South Asian community leaders and elders, she developed and disseminated multilingual toolkits, parenting resources, and live radio/TV shows, reaching tens of thousands of South Asians in BC and beyond, and emphasizing the critical importance of child development, parenting, and community resources.

Daljit’s governance acumen is further evidenced by her six-year tenure on the Provincial Child Care Council, and she is pleased to return as Chair of the Council. Furthermore, she was key in expanding childcare and afterschool services in the City of Surrey and establishing the first-ever Surrey Community Child Care Task Force. Her leadership, positioned at the nexus of multi-stakeholder collaboration, relational praxis, and democratic participation informed her doctoral thesis on power dynamics in supporting newcomer early childhood partnerships. Daljit also provides leadership on provincial anti-racism initiatives, in university classrooms, and as a consultant to businesses and nonprofits, exemplifying leadership excellence in all the spaces she serves. 

Appointment Date: 24/05/2024

Jason Gordon is currently a Provincial Advisor for the British Columbia Association for Child Development and Intervention (BCACDI), a provincial non-profit organization representing community-based not-for-profits that support children and youth with developmental disabilities. He has also worked in roles as a Research Coordinator (UBC Okanagan), and as a physiotherapist. He holds a Bachelors in Physiotherapy from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in Health Studies from the University of Athabasca.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Vera LeFranc is Chief Operating Officer of Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver. Previously Ms. LeFranc was Manger of Community Projects for Vancity Community Foundation and a Councillor for the City of Surrey. Active in her community, she was Founding Chair of the Surrey Urban Aboriginal Social Innovation Strategy and Co-Chair of the Surrey Poverty Reduction Strategy and Coalition. Ms. LeFranc holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Jessica Liu lives in Maple Ridge with her husband and two children. She graduated from Simon Fraser University where she majored in Finance and Accounting. Her passion, however, has always been Early Childhood Educator. Ms. Liu has a huge passion for spending time with young children and went back to school to receive AMI Montessori and IT-ECE Certificates. She believes that children are our future and early childhood educators play an important role in guiding children to become more confident and independent. She has been working in the ECE field for almost 10 years and loves to work with others so that we can best serve our children.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Leslie Louie is from the Tla’amin Nation and has 13 years of experience as an Early Childhood Educator, before transitioning into the Health and Social Work field. She completed her Bachelor of Social Degree with Vancouver Island University in December 2021. Since April 2022, she has been working as the Early Childhood Education Manager for the Tla’amin Nation Child Development Resource Center and the new či čʊy ʔaye Children’s House, which offers Infant Toddler, 3-5 Year and Preschool programs.  In addition, her programs supports families through programs such as Early Childhood Outreach, Indigenous Supported Child Development, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Ms. Louie is enthusiastic about including culture, language, and land-based learning opportunities into early childhood curriculum.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Cindy Page (she/hers) lives and works on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən People (also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nation). She been an ECEC Instructor for 20 years, and was a former program chair at Northern Lights College. She is a Board member of the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Tribunal, the Early Childhood Educators of BC, and sits on the Learning Outside Together committee. She is certified as an Early Childhood Educator in BC and has worked as a licensing officer, a CCRR consultant, and in direct care including licensed family and small group child care. She was a recipient of ECEBC’s Gayle Davies Award, has a diploma in Child and Youth Care, and a Masters of Learning and Technology.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Danielle Sayers-Jimeno, is a qualified Early Childhood Educator and Child and Youth Care professional who has been supporting children and families for over 30 years. She presently works as the Director of Early Years, within the Ministry of Education, at Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) and has previous experience in a variety of settings, including organizational roles leading staff teams, as well as experience working with children who have neuro-diverse backgrounds and children and their families who have complex trauma histories. Ms. Jimeno has a Bachelor's of Child and Youth Care, from the University of Victoria, in the specialty stream of the Early Years, as well as a diploma in Early Childhood Education with her Infant Toddler and Special Needs certification. Ms. Jimeno is Métis and has recently applied for her Métis Citizenship through MNBC.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Tyler Summers is Principle at The Summers Life Creative Inc, a creative agency with a focus on learning spaces and education. Mr. Summers is also an Early Childhood Care and Education Instructor for Vancouver Community College and a Freelance Educator Consultant. Active in his community, he is Chair of the Vancouver Community College ECCE Program Advisory Committee. Previously Mr. Summers was Chair of School Age Child Care Association of British Columbia and a Co-Chair of Vancouver Middle School Matters Steering Committee. He holds an Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

James Teng is the Director of Little Koala Montessori Academy and the Executive Director of Canadian Southwestern College. Teng has over a decade of experience in operating childcare facilities in the Lower Mainland. James is passionate about the Montessori philosophy and has been training Montessori educators through his teacher training program in recent years. He is a member of the American Montessori Society and the Early Childhood Educators of BC. Teng holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Business from Monash University in Australia. 

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Calvin Tse is a globally experienced business leader having gathered expertise in high-tech, banking, and healthcare industries. He is a founding member of the Organic Early Learning organization and currently serving in the role of General Manager. Calvin found his passion in education and early childhood development after meeting like-minded parents and educators who felt strongly about setting higher standards for child care. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University, and is an alumni of the Executive MBA program at Queen's University. Among his personal interests, Calvin enjoys exploring all over the province of BC through highways and Forestry Service Roads alike, and he is also a golf nut on an endless pursuit to play golf courses all around the world.

Appointment Date: 31/03/2023

Taya Whitehead is Dean of Health and Human Services for Selkirk College. Ms. Whitehead has 20 years experience as an Early Childhood Educator. Previously she was School Chair – Health and Human Services and a Human Services Instructor for Selkirk College. Active in her community, Ms. Whitehead is Treasurer of Kootenay Family Place and Secretary for Canadian Child Care Federation. Previously she was President of Early Childhood Educator of BC. Ms. Whitehead received the Gaye Davies Award from Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia. She holds a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies Adult Education and Community Studies from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021

Bev Young is the Superintendent of Schools for the Okanagan-Similkameen School District.  Previously, Ms. Young was Superintendent of Schools for the Bulkley Valley.  She is one of the longest serving superintendents in the province of British Columbia, having been in this leadership role since 2008.  Ms. Young is an experienced educator and leader committed to equity and improved outcomes for all in a thriving public education system.  Bev has served students and families as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, assistant-superintendent, and superintendent of schools.  Active in her community, she is a member on various committees of the British Columbia Superintendents Association.

Appointment Date: 10/02/2021