Tiny chairs. Tiny tables with puzzles and books for tiny hands. Individual little cubbies inside and small slides outside in the yard. These are the spaces where our littles learn, grow and develop.
An understanding hand holding theirs, eyes that light up when they walk into the room. This is what parents hope for their children when they aren’t at home.
While doctors, nurses, firefighters and police officers are surely heroes of our community, so too are the nurturing childcare educators who watch over and teach the next generation during their youngest years.
The Squamish Chief put out a call for childcare heroes. The response was overwhelming. So many parents wanted to ensure their child’s daycare, preschool or childcare provider was recognized.
While we cannot feature everyone nominated, the number of responses says there are many talented, nurturing professional childcare educators in Squamish who deserve praise.
Here are some of the folks who we heard about and what we heard about them.
Maya Magee
From our overflowing inbox of positive emails and nominations, there is no doubt that Maya Magee, of Discovery Kids Childcare, has touched many lives in her career as a caregiver and daycare owner.
Discovery Kids offers programs for children from one to five years old.
One of the many to nominate Magee was parent Taylor McKechnie, who calls Magee an “amazing human.”
McKechnie said her son began at Discovery in 2018 when he was 11 months old.
“Five years and two kids later, she is more grateful than ever for Magee.
“She was and has been the most present, compassionate and genuinely loving caregiver for every single child that walks through the doors of her daycare. I have never once hesitated to send Maya a text or pop into her office for a quick chat about anything and everything that involved my kids,” McKechnie said.
“Maya, in turn, is always open, honest and caring regarding each and every issue, no matter how big or small. She is the busiest lady yet always finds the time for anyone that needs her.”
McKechnie said Magee has been a “tireless advocate” on behalf of not only the families at Discovery Kids, but for families throughout Squamish and B.C., in regards to affordable childcare.
Discovery Kids became a $10-a-day daycare in 2018.
Magee, who was born and raised here, is soon leaving Discovery — which will be under new ownership come March — and Squamish behind and heading to Vancouver Island.
Her story in childcare and her love of kids starts way back when she was a young parent with four children by the age of 23.
When she considered what she wanted to do for a career, she looked at what she loved and what the town needed.
“I knew that I loved Squamish. I love the community; I’ve only ever lived here — I was born here. And I wanted to do something that would make an impact in the community, so I chose childcare,” she said.
She started taking in kids in her home, but soon wanted to be part of a larger team of caregivers.
She opened up Discovery Kids in 2009.
Magee has loved connecting with the kids, families and staff over the years, she said.
Always quick to deflect praise from herself, she said that many caregivers at the centre have worked hard to make it an educational and loving place to be for kids and their parents.
“What’s kept me here over the years is just, first and foremost, working alongside really talented and really thoughtful women,” she said. “We tried to offer something that’s just really genuine, welcoming. A place where families can keep coming back even after their children have gone into kindergarten. [Where] they just feel like they’ve created some really strong relationships here.”
Magee said she was overwhelmed to hear she was nominated as a local hero.
“I’m super humbled by it, and I’m just really honoured,” she said. “I certainly wouldn’t want to take the credit myself. They’re amazing educators here in this building. And certainly, I mean, I’m leaving them behind [but] they, they don’t need me; they’ll continue this on without me for sure.”
Rosa Barcotti
Educator Rosa Barcotti’s eyes light up when she talks about her Project Play Family Centre in the Ravenswood subdivision. Originally from Brazil, Barcotti has been in education for 40 years.
She started out as a certified teacher, teaching middle and high school. When she and her family moved to Canada in 1994, her career had to shift.
“I fell in love with early learning,” she said.
Like all of those interviewed for this story, the veteran educator was shy to talk about herself and quick to deflect praise to others.
However, her passion for childcare bubbled out of her as she toured The Squamish Chief through the rooms of the home that serves as the licensed childcare centre where the focus is on learning through play. The centre takes children from 2.5 to five years of age.
It has all the advantages of a regular daycare — little toilets, a large playground, office space and the like, but it is a home Barcotti and her husband converted.
Parent Brittany Duggan Cuthiell says her daughter has benefited greatly from the Reggio Emilia philosophy at Project Play. The education philosophy values the child as central to their own learning.
Barcotti previously travelled to Italy for a course on the Reggio method.
For the past 11 years, she has taught the value of play to up-and-coming educators through online courses at Algonquin College in Ottawa.
Each day at Project Play, parents get an email about what the kids are up to, what activities were set up for them and what they discovered themselves.
“Rosa describes development milestones in these daily emails [and] how important collaborative play is. She is simultaneously teaching the kids daily in the classrooms as she is us parents in these daily missives with the day’s photos,” said Duggan Cuthiell.
“She is also very personable and stays in close touch when the kids are sick. She once volunteered to take care of my daughter one weekend day because I was solo parenting, and she knew I needed help. The love Rosa has for her students is palpable — big hugs at the gate each day and cuddles throughout the day as needed.”
Barcotti says it is the children who keep her motivated.
They inspire me, because my philosophy is that I am a co-learner with the children,” she said. “I don’t know it all. So together, we figure out a lot of things during the day. I follow their lead. I follow their emergent interests. And I support them with a setup of the room, where [they can find] the materials that they need to spark curiosity, to engage them in conversations, and from that to learn. And I play. I think play is extremely important in all stages of our lives.”
Amielle Aubry-Lafrance
Parent Tamlyn Smith says Amielle Aubry-Lafrance has been there as a big support for her family.
Her son Aiden was under Aubry-Lafrance’s care at Platypus Playcentre when it still operated.
“She developed a strong bond with him, unlike any other I’d witnessed,” said Smith, adding that Aiden missed her terribly when YMCA Platypus closed.
“Throughout the challenges of lack of childcare, Amielle helped us out on her days off after she’d moved to a new childcare centre. She filled in the gaps that a lack of family support in the area created for us.”
Aubry-Lafrance then took on the role of supporting Lisa McIntosh and the Child Care Resource and Referral Program (CCRR) at Sea to Sky Community Services.
“Amielle has maintained a strong relationship with Aiden, 4, and his older brother Austin, 7. Amielle has a vested interest in the development of kids and supporting families like ours. … Our family holds deep respect, love and gratitude for the safe, inclusive spaces that Amielle cultivates wherever she goes. Amielle has truly been a hero for our family and our community.”
Aubry-Lafrance says it has been a very challenging and rewarding career so far.
Her work with children came out of a very strong and early desire to make the world a better place.
“When I was a child, I became very aware of the inequalities that were playing out in the world; whether it is adult children, with homelessness and all these things, so I was always very, very touched by that from an early age,” she said.
When she was school-aged, living in Montreal, a daycare operated in a neighbouring house.
“I really enjoyed just going there and hanging out with the children that were younger than I,” she said.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to be around children.”
Her path was interrupted for a time by a passion for snowboarding.
She has been working with kids for about eight years now.
In her current role, among other things, she helps organize professional development workshops for early childhood educators and helps parents that might want to start a home daycare. She also facilitates coffee-time playgroups for parents that also have engaging sensory-based play for kids.
She says it is the friendships with both kids and adults that she values most about her work.
“We kind of have a perception that friendships are usually amongst people of your own age, but I beg to disagree with that,” she said, adding she has formed close friendships with kids.
“Something that I would really want to stress is that, despite education being very, a very serious endeavour, I would stress for everyone to keep in mind that silliness — and not taking ourselves seriously — goes a very long way ... I’m a bit of a silly person. And I feel like the children really appreciate that.”
Anna Chebotareva
Squamish parent Nadia Kozminchuk says Anna Chebotareva, of Little Miracles Montessori in Valleycliffe, gave her a Christmas miracle.
“A few months ago, I decided to return to my old job full-time. The only problem was that although I had been on waitlists for daycares for several years, my daughter had not yet gotten a spot anywhere,” Kozminchuk recalled, adding she had emailed all the daycares Sea to Sky Community Services had suggested, hoping to get her then 18-month-old Mia into a spot.
“I kid you not; on the evening of Dec. 25th, I got an email from Anna letting me know that she had a spot for my little one. It was a Christmas miracle,” said Kozminchuk.
“I am so beyond grateful for what Anna does for [Mia] and all the other kiddos in her care. She is so present and tends to their individual needs, and it is clear that she has formed a very special bond with each and every one of them. Daycare workers are a unique breed: full of compassion and love, and definitely the most patient. Kudos to Anna.”
Chebotareva opened Little Miracles in January 2018. It is a small family daycare, currently caring for seven children.
“They’re all part of my family at this point. They feel so comfortable here. And when they leave, it’s like losing a member of your family,” Chebotareva said.
She said she answered Kozminchuk on Christmas Day because she knows how stressful it is for parents to find care.
“I get emails, like 5 to 10 emails a day, asking me for childcare,” she said.
Chebotareva’s goal, as many of the childcare heroes said, is to provide quality childcare where the parents feel safe leaving their children and the children enjoy coming to.
There are hard days,Chebotareva acknowledged, but the best days are “when they come in, and they’re all lit up and they’re smiling and they’re happy to be here. And mom and dad say [their child] spent all weekend talking about going to Anna’s. Perfect,” she said.
Carol Misquitta
Carol Misquitta, of Busy Bees Family Daycare, was inspired to go into education by her “fabulous” Grade 1 teacher.
“I would watch her mannerisms and thought, ‘Oh, I would like to be a teacher.’ But it was just a thought. And then life takes you on different journeys.”
Misquitta immigrated to Canada from India when she was 25.
“I went back to work after my second son. But then we couldn’t find childcare,” she recalled, adding that her mother, who had been helping, needed to go back to India. Misquitta quit her then-job, but soon realized she wanted to work.
She started Busy Bees in 2006.
A passion for learning, and of course being around kids are the keys to being a good childcare educator, she said.
Misquitta said she would like to see early childhood educators given the respect afforded to kindergarten teachers.
“One day before they started kindergarten, they were with a childcare provider. So, why is there a distinction?” she said.
“We are educating. Our spaces are our classroom.”
The pandemic highlighted the issues they face and value of early childhood educators, she said.
“But it is hard. Educators are getting educated; they’re getting degrees; they are getting certifications. And at the same time, the job is looked like you’re just doing care and nurturing.”
There has to be a change in how we think and talk about this work, she said.
“There has to be a culture shock. It has to change.”
Childcare workers are educators, she stressed.
She also advocates for those who work with young children to have degrees and certifications.
“We want the same wage and benefits [as kindergarten teachers], and so educators have to be willing to go to school and be certified and enhance their education. Because with education, you see a difference in quality and classrooms.”
Parent Darcie Schellenberg commends Misquitta for the quality of education she gives the children in her care.
“While both our girls are now in school, we often look back and thank our lucky stars Carol was a part of their lives when they were little,” Schellenberg said “We cannot begin to thank Carol and her family enough for the love and care they provided them, and I know many other families who feel this way as well … She is definitely a daycare hero in our eyes.”
Michelle Naida
Michelle Naida, of Mimi’s Family Childcare in Brackendale, was a public school teacher for a decade before opening her home-based daycare about 12 years ago.
“When I had kids, I knew that I wanted to be home with my own kids,” she said. “Once I had children, my friends needed care. And then I realized what a need there was for childcare. I guess I seem to have the patience and the energy for it,” she added, with a chuckle.
Naida has been called Mimi by the kids in her care ever since one of her first daycare children originally couldn't pronounce Michelle, so called her Mimi.
"It just kind of stuck," Naida said.
What she loves about family childcare is that she can have a range of ages where older kids help younger ones, and they learn from each other.
She takes children 12 months to five years old.
“It is so fun to see kids who started with me as a baby who are now the big kids,” she said. “And they help the babies and they hold their hands when we go places. It’s just in the dynamic of the family childcare. Even an only child gets a chance to be a big sibling.”
Naida's care and concern for the children in her care are not lost on the youngsters' parents.
“She’s so understanding of both parents and their kids,” said parent Catherine Isaac.
"Our son Felix has an amazing time playing in her garden," Isaac said.
“She treats each child like they’re her own …. She’s been so flexible and helped us out so much with finding care in such a tricky time. We feel very honoured to have her. We don’t know how she does it."
Naida is concerned that while having a home-based daycare worked for her, the finances of it likely don't work so well today, with current housing prices.
Fewer home-based care centres would be a big loss, she said.
"I really feel that there is a need for a range of types of childcare. And my concern is that as things get more expensive here, there's gonna be fewer opportunities for people like myself to open family childcare. I think it's a really necessary option to have for people," she said. "Not every child as a baby will do well going into a group centre, even though we have amazing group centres here in Squamish."
Bobbi Jo Bergstrom
Sarah Denby and her family nominated Bobbi Jo Bergstrom of Eagle View Child Development Center.
“They are one of the very few daycares in town that provide opportunities for children with diverse needs to flourish,” said Denby.
Her daughter was at the centre from 18 months old. Her daughter is now in kindergarten, and she still talks about how she misses her teachers, friends and toys at her “old school,” according to Denby.
Bergstrom said when she first started at Eagle View, she could never have known working with children would become her life’s work.
“Fast forward, I have become a strong advocate for quality, play-based programs, with an understanding of how important and deeply meaningful learning through play can be for children in the early years,” she said.
It is this knowledge that fuelled my passion for creating learning spaces designed for children, mirroring child interest, rich with materials, to invite children to explore, ask questions, investigate, or build on learned or new skills while sharing the role of collaborators alongside the children. All with the purpose to create joy and with joy comes love. I am so incredibly lucky to say I love what I do each and every day.”
Bergstrom has cared for the shaping of young minds and hearts for 27 years so far.
She praised the “superhero” educators she works with at Eagle View.
Speaking to the future of Eagle View, Bergstrom said the centre would not be renewing its lease in the current facility.
“Staying would mean a significant fee increase and that’s not an option or possible as a regulated facility, especially in a climate of increased living costs and $10-a-day daycare promises,” she said.
While she has been looking for some time, she has yet to find a suitable place, which is a concern not only for her but for the 43 kids and their parents.
(If anyone has an idea for a space, reach out the daycare directly or email [email protected] and we will pass on the message.)
“I have loved working in Squamish all these years and really felt my connection to the community through the years as I watched children grow, graduate and have children of their own and now come back to Bobbi’s. That’s a legacy in itself.”
