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.

Gyda Chud

Gyda has worked on behalf of children for more than 40 years. She helped to develop both Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, which provides training, resources and information services to BC families, child care providers and organizations, and the anti-bias, anti-racist education programs of Westcoast Multicultural and Diversity Services. Gyda worked to establish and chair the Human Resources Round Table on Child Care in Ottawa, to ensure that quality child care is visible on the national scene. She’s been a member of the Coalition since its inception. In her work life, Gyda was the Coordinator of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs at Vancouver Community College and Dean, Centre for Continuing Studies.

Kate Spence

Aryanna Chartrand

Aryanna is an early childhood educator of Cree, Black, and settler ancestry. She earned her BA in ECCE at Capilano University and MA in International Education Policy Analysis at Stanford University. She is an experienced board member, having served as Chairperson of the Alliance of BC Students, and Vice President of the Capilano Students’ Union. Her areas of interest include reconciliation in ECE, teacher education, and public policy.

Mab Oloman

Like many advocates Mab’s interest in child care emerged when she became a parent in 1976. Overtime, both as a public servant and as a volunteer with organizations including Canadian Council for Children and Youth, First Call and the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada she sought solutions to the child care and other needs of families with young children. Mab thought ‘it’ would all be ‘fixed’ by the time she became a granny but 40 years later the child care crisis is even more desperate. Her commitment to seeking a solution is unwavering.

Rita Chudnovsky, MEd

For over 3 decades, it has been my privilege to work for and with the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC and child care organizations across BC and Canada. The issue, people and culture of the child care advocacy movement have captured my heart and soul. Now, as a retired mother and grandmother, I am delighted to be on the Board of the CCCABC as we work to make $10aDay Child Care a reality for BC families. The success of this campaign keeps me energized and optimistic. This time we will win!

Sara Langlois

Sara is a French immersion teacher and a mother of two preschool age children. She is originally from Quebec, where affordable childcare is a common commodity.  She now lives in BC and joined the coalition hoping to help raise awareness about the positive impacts of access to quality childcare on children, mothers and families in general.

Susan Harney

Susan has been an active member of the Coalition for more years than she can remember. For over 25 years she worked front line with children and families in a variety of settings and programs. She was also an ECE instructor for many years. In February 2012, she presented to the United Nations committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland. Her work on the CCCABC Board focuses on rights of women and children and participating in women’s coalitions on behalf of CCCABC.

Sherry Small

Sherry is a dedicated Nisga’a Citizen committed to promoting Indigenous rights and fostering inclusivity. With a rich professional history spanning over three decades, she has been instrumental in various spheres of government relations, policy research, and community development. Sherry's career highlights underscore her role as a catalyst for positive change, including founding and coordinating the Family Reunification initiative and leading the redesign and coordination of the Bill C-31 Legal Advocacy Program. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to the development of crucial handbooks and constitutional drafts, such as the Nisga’a Constitution and Aboriginal Rights and Benefits. Sherry's expertise extends to establishing the inaugural Urban Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare program, demonstrating her commitment to fostering community growth and development.

Katrina Chen

Katrina (陳葦蓁) moved to Canada from Taiwan on her own and graduated from Simon Fraser University. She began her career in grassroots community work and served as a trustee on the Burnaby Board of Education. Katrina was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby-Lougheed and served as Minister of State for Child Care, where she was dedicated to building a new $10-a-Day system. She was the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet and its youngest member at the time. Katrina is now the President of 安信 Community Savings, where she is working to start the first credit union in BC dedicated to Chinese Canadians and Chinese-language communities. She is also a strong advocate for child care, education, mental health, and equity, through her professional coaching, writing, and community services.

Gabriela Cervantes

Gabriela is an advocacy and policy specialist dedicated to bridging community voices with public policy. With a background in evidence-based policymaking and community building, Gabriela focuses on crafting social policies to address systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty and inequality. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia and an MSc in Public Policy from UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University. Passionate about fostering community-centered solutions, Gabriela aims to create accessible pathways to knowledge through a justice and care-centered approach, particularly for equity-seeking groups. She utilizes her skills in research, data analysis, government relations, and policy communication to advance public awareness of the importance of a universal early learning and child care system for promoting gender equality, human flourishing, and societal well-being. Gabriela works toward contributing to more caring public policies and communities that enhance overall well-being. Outside of her professional life, Gabriela enjoys spending time in nature, crocheting, and exploring human-centric design and technology.

Nadia Rabierad

With over a decade of experience, Nadia has dedicated her career to working closely with newcomer families. An immigrant herself, Nadia has combined her background in clinical psychology with her passion for early childhood education to serve the next generation of Canadians through her role as regional childcare manager at MOSAIC.  Nadia is deeply committed to creating inclusive and supportive environments for children, especially those who may face developmental challenges or barriers due to language or cultural differences. She recognizes that childcare can be transformative and is in many senses a necessity. As such her work often extends beyond day-to-day childcare management, as she actively participates in community initiatives and collaborations.

Andrea Craddock

Both my sister and I are passionate about working with children and chose working with children as our vocation. I closed by family daycare to work as an Education Assistant, whereas my sister has remained a rare gem, having worked as a fully certified ECE for over 30 years. We have compared notes over the years and have both advocated for $10 a Day Childcare through our union, labour council, (Stroller Brigades) in partnership with MLAs, determined to move the bar on providing quality early learning for children and respect and recognition for those who do this important work.  Andrea is President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 723, Support Staff School District 72, Campbell River.