Welcome to Season 5 Episode 7 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast!

During this episode, we're joined by Nicky Byres. Nicky Byres has led the Society of Richmond Children's Centres for almost 3 decades. Building a multi-site, non-profit from 2 centres to 6 centres with 13 programs and 70 educators serving 230 families with values-based leadership. Nicky is also an instructor in the post-basic ECE training program in Delta and a Communities of Practice Mentor.

She has been published several times and given keynotes and led professional learning across BC and Canada. She is a co-leader of Educating for Democracy, an initiative of Exchange Pressin the United States through the Reimagining Our Work (ROW) Initiative. Her skill set is organizational leadership, and her heart is in the pedagogy of early childhood.

Listen now at BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast Season 5, Episode 7: or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 6 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast!

During this episode, we're joined by Safiya Ayuen. Safiya is a policy researcher and analyst with a background in international relations, human rights, and community-informed policy work. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and a certificate in Human Rights and Global Development from Sciences Po, Paris.

In her recent role as a Policy and Engagement Officer at Pacific Immigrant Resources Society in Vancouver, she worked on a systems-change initiative focused on immigrant and refugee women in British Columbia, where she supported policy analysis, community engagement, and the development of equity-focused policy recommendations. She brings an analytical and community-informed perspective to policy reform and is fluent in French and Spanish. Find out 'Why Child Care Matters: Even if you Don't Have Children' by listening to the episode today!

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 5 of our BC's Path to Universal Child Care Podcast!

During this episode, we're joined by Sherlana Shroeder. Chetwynd is the colonial name for the place our guest Sherlana lives. There are many Indigenous peoples that have and continue to call this place home including Cree, Dane-Zaa, Saulteau and many Métis peoples. Chetwynd is on the Treaty 8 Territory, and this distinction between *treaty and *unceded land is necessary.

Sherlana is of Cree and Métis descent from Saskatchewan, though her connection to community is deeply impacted by the colonial disruption of Indigenous families. As an adult, she has been actively reclaiming her heritage through connections with Elders, learning her ancestral language, and engaging with the work of Indigenous scholars. This journey of cultural reclamation fuels Sherlana’s passion and purpose in the field of Early Childhood Education. She is committed to fostering environments where children grow up knowing their stories, cultures, and identities—without needing to reclaim them later in life. Sherlana joined the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC already rooted in advocacy, and with the support of a strong network of colleagues and board members, she continues to strengthen her voice in pursuit of meaningful, systemic change. Listen to this episode and become inspired to act by Sherlana's growing advocacy.

*Treaty is a formal, legally-binding agreement between the Crown (representing Canada) and Indigenous Peoples, defining ongoing rights, responsibilities, and relationships, aiming to reconcile Indigenous sovereignty with Crown sovereignty through historic land-cession pacts, the numbered treaties, and modern land claims. These agreements, protected by the Constitution, establish lasting benefits like resource harvesting and self-government, forming the foundation for nation-to-nation relationships and impacting land, governance, and socio-economic issues. Visit this link to learn What are Treaty Rights?

*Unceded land refers to Indigenous territory that was never formally surrendered, ceded, or transferred to the Crown or Canada through treaty or agreement. It signifies that First Nations retain rightful, ongoing, and, in some cases, legally recognized title to their traditional territories. Significant portions of Canada, including most of British Columbia, are considered unceded.

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