New program focuses on early childhood education training
Vancouver Community College (VCC)'s Partnership Development Office (PDO) and Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS) are pleased to offer a specialized, no-cost Entry to Early Childhood Education Training program to eligible British Columbians.
This comprehensive 16-week interculturally inclusive and accessible skill training program is designed to equip new immigrant & refugee women and individuals facing multiple barriers to employment become skilled and certified ECE Assistants. Graduates will be fully prepared to enter the ever-growing and in-demand Early Childhood Education field as ECE Assistants and/or pursue further education.
This program includes 12 weeks of cohort-based classroom learning at VCC’s downtown campus and 4 weeks of on-the job experience at an authentic workplace with a local employer.
Funding for this project was provided by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
- Skills for success
- Employment and job search skills
- Occupational language training
- Industry certifications: FOODSAFE and First Aid
- Guiding and caring
- Cohort 1: December 4, 2023 – March 29, 2024
- Cohort 2: May 6, 2024 – August 23, 2024
- Cohort 3: Sept. 03, 2024 - Dec. 20, 2024
- Cohort 4: April 21, 2025 – August 8, 2025
- Cohort 5: July 14, 2025 – Oct. 31, 2025
- At least 18 years old and have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Living in British Columbia
- Canadian Citizens; or Permanent Residents; or Protected persons entitled to work in Canada
- Unemployed or precariously employed
- Experiencing multiple barriers to employment such as lack of recent/Canadian experience, lack of basic employment skills, limited languages skills, non-high school completion, unstable housing etc.
- Priority will be given to recent immigrant and refugee women.
- Grade 10 English or Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 or above. Occupational language training is provided to support language upgrading.
- Ability to pass a criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector check