What is Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre (wstcoast.org)?

Updated

Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre (WCCRC) is a non-profit resource, referral, and training organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It serves three main audiences: parents and guardians looking for child care, certified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and early years professionals seeking professional development, and organizations or researchers needing consultation and guidance. If you are searching for child care in Vancouver, want to build your skills as an early childhood educator, or need a trusted source of information about early care and learning in BC, this site is built for you.

What WCCRC does

WCCRC describes itself as a trusted source of resources, referrals, and information for families looking for child care and for those who provide it. It has been serving for over 30 years and is known for collaboration and community-building across BC.

Its work falls into two broad streams:

  • For families — tools and resources to help find quality child care in Vancouver, including a list of child care providers and help navigating provincial subsidy applications.
  • For professionals — professional development workshops and learning for certified ECEs and early years professionals, plus a resource library and job board.

Main service areas

Service Who it's for What it offers
Choosing Child Care Parents and guardians Guidance and resources for finding quality child care in Vancouver, including provider lists and help with provincial subsidy applications
Find Childcare Parents and guardians A child care portal to narrow your search
Professional Development Certified ECEs and early years professionals Workshops and learning covering topics for those entering the field and those with years of experience
Westcoast Early Learning Library (WELL) Educators, students, parents, caregivers A resource library with materials for both educators and the children in their care
Job Postings Early Childhood Educators Submit and view ECE job postings
Vancouver CCRR Child care providers and families in Vancouver A wide range of services supporting both providers and families seeking child care within the City of Vancouver

Service area and role in BC

WCCRC is the host organization for the Vancouver Child Care Resource & Referral (VCCRR) program, which serves the City of Vancouver specifically. If you are outside Vancouver, WCCRC points visitors to the Child Care Resource and Referral Centres listing on the Province of British Columbia website to find a CCRR in another community.

So the practical rule is: use wstcoast.org for Vancouver-specific child care search and referral, and use the provincial CCRR directory if you need support elsewhere in BC.

Who should use this site

  • Parents and guardians in Vancouver who need help finding child care or understanding subsidy applications.
  • Certified ECEs and early years professionals looking for workshops, professional development, or a resource library.
  • Students in early childhood education who want library resources or job postings.
  • Organizations, researchers, and government seeking consultation and guidance on early care and learning in BC.

How to get started

  1. If you need child care — go to the Find Childcare portal to narrow your search, or read the Choosing Child Care section for guidance on evaluating providers and navigating subsidy applications.
  2. If you are an educator — browse Professional Development to view workshops, or visit the Westcoast Early Learning Library for resources.
  3. If you are job hunting — check the Job Postings section to view or submit ECE postings.
  4. If you want updates — sign up for the WCCRC e-newsletter to stay current on changes in the world of child care.

One note on scope: the site's family-facing child care search and referral services are tied to the City of Vancouver through the VCCRR program. If you are outside that area, start with the provincial CCRR directory rather than expecting Vancouver-specific listings to apply to you.