FUNDED BY: Children First, Ministry of Children and Family Development & Success By 6® partnership between Ministry of Children & Family Development, Credit Unions of BC, United Ways and communities.
What we do
The Castlegar Early Childhood Advisory Council (CECAC) is one of seven councils in the West Kootenay region working in their communities to support children 0-6, their families and caregivers. Our group is made up of local service providers, parents, and community-minded individuals.
Members meet monthly to collaboratively advocate for the interests of young children, strengthen resource networks, and respond to identified gaps in services and programs.
Mission – the Castlegar Early Childhood Advisory Council works in partnership with the community to create an environment in which each child can reach their full potential
Vision – A community that fosters equal access to cultural, educational, recreational and social opportunities.
Additional Funders
Contact
Coordinator: Lauren Steeg – cecac.info@gmail.com
Chairperson: Michelle Pierce – michelle.kpf@telus.net
Members
Active Members
|
Agency/Affiliation/Group Name |
| Michelle Pierce | Coordinator, Castlegar Early Childhood Advisory Council |
| Dorothy Kaytor | Community Action Program for Children, Kootenay Family Place |
| Arlee Venier | Librarian, Castlegar Library |
| Carrie Leason | Community Action Program for Children, Kootenay Family Place |
| Jerri Schmidt | West Kootenay Infant Development Program, Kootenay Family Place |
| Laurie Watson | Coordinator, Robson Community School |
| Alana Murdoch | Community Literacy Coordinator, Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy |
| Sarah Jones | Public Health Nurse, Interior Health |
| Alana Medeiros | Coordinator, Blueberry Creek Community School |
| Susanne Thomas | Parent |
| Taya Whitehead | Instructor, Early Childhood Education, Selkirk College, Castlegar Campus |
| Lisa Sloot | Community Health Representative, Lower Columbia All First Nations |
| Christina Knippelberg | Mental Health & Addictions, Lower Columbia All First Nations |
| Joanne McMeekin | Kindergarten Teacher, Kinnaird Elementary |
Associate Members
|
Agency/Affiliation/Group Name |
| Heather Nichol | Child & Youth Mental Health Clinician, Ministry of Children & Family Development |
| Jim Fisher | Executive Director, Kootenay Family Place |
| Rhonda Shears | Team Leader, Ministry of Children & Family Development |
| Lynnene Lewis | Director Quality Assurance & Program Development, Kootenay Family Place |
| Katrine Conroy | MLA, Kootenay West |
| Alex Atamanenko | MP, BC Southern Interior |
Meeting Dates and Times
2nd Tuesday of the month (12-1:30pm). Please contact Coordinator for the location – meeting times subject to change.
Resources
Events and Projects
Tuesday, July 26th: CECAC will be reviewing and updating our Strategic Plan.
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011: CECAC representatives will be at the Castlegar & District Recreation’s 3rd Annual Parade of Programs. Please visit us and fill out one of our surveys, which help to keep us informed about the priorities of Castlegar’s parents and caregivers.
Sunday, September 11th: For the 2nd year, CECAC members will be hosting dinner for the West Kootenay Toy Run as a fundraiser for the Pirate Ship playground component (see ongoing projects).
Ongoing:
Fundraising for a toddler-specific, wheelchair accessible ‘Pirate Ship’ playground component – to be installed at Kinsman Park (behind the Castlegar Library). We are grateful for a partnership with the City of Castlegar, who have worked with us to determine the suitability of the equipment for the selected location, and have agreed to do the installation. Please see the Pirate Ship Donation Info in the ‘Resources’ section or contact our Coordinator, if you are interested in supporting this exciting project. Donations are eligible for a charity receipt. Stay posted for fundraising and partnership updates.
Comments?
If you would like more information about the work of the Castlegar Early Childhood Advisory Council or how to get involved, please email Lauren Steeg Grace, Coordinator at cecac.info@gmail.com.
We welcome input from you. Do you have feedback on what it’s like to be a parent or caregiver in Castlegar? Are there services or supports that you’re unable to access or feel are missing? What do you enjoy about raising children in Castlegar? Together, we can work to improve our community.
To join our e-newsletter, send a quick email to castlegarconnection@gmail.com. You will not receive more than one email a month, and your information will be treated with respect and confidentiality.
