Darcelle Cottons

Born and raised in B.C. Darcelle attended early childhood education training right out of high school in 1971. Originally planning to attend university to become a kindergarten teacher like her mother she was attracted by a desire to contribute to what was hailed as a brand new sector  critical to support women’s equality.

After beginning her child care career in East Vancouver  her family moved to the West Kootenays to work and raise three children. Returning to Vancouver in the late 1980’s she worked as the Administrator of a non-profit program in North Vancouver and then in 1991 became the Director of UBC’s newly amalgamated child care services where she worked for over 28 years growing the department from 200 to more than 700 licensed spaces by the time she retired in early 2020.