ELCC Insights & Updates

Workshops | Registration | Contact Lead with Excellence in Early Childhood Education Invest in your professional growth this summer. The Churcher Group Inc is proud to offer two specialized workshops designed to help Alberta child care educators, leaders, and teams elevate their daily practice and navigate the complexities of modern childcare standards. 100% PD Funding Approved Classroom Excellence Through Regulation & Practice Turn regulations into daily excellence. Specific

The next four weeks will shape the next ten months in your childcare program. September feels like the beginning of the year in early learning, but the truth is that August is where success is built. While families are finishing vacations and educators are preparing classrooms, childcare operators are carrying a much bigger responsibility. They're making decisions that will affect their team, their finances, their enrolment, and their culture for months to come. The strongest

About | Blog | Contact After years of conversations with operators, educators, policymakers, and families, I wanted a space to continue those discussions beyond meetings and presentations. I've launched a new Substack where I'll share honest reflections, challenge assumptions, and explore the ideas shaping childcare in Canada—and I'd love to have you join the conversation. Myth VS Reality Does Ownership Determine Quality in Child Care? In the complex landscape of early childh

Fall always comes quickly in childcare. By the time September arrives, programs are often managing new enrolments, staff changes, updated schedules, family communication, classroom transitions, licensing expectations, and the everyday demands of running a busy centre. That is why July is a good time to pause, review, and prepare. Even if your program is open year-round, the summer months can offer a valuable opportunity to look at the systems behind the scenes. A little plann

On June 19, 2026, the Government of Canada announced new federal funding to help maintain affordable early learning and child care across the country. The announcement confirmed that the federal government will invest up to $5.4 billion over two years, for 2026–27 and 2027–28, to support the Canada-wide early learning and child care system. This funding is in addition to the more than $58 billion already committed through early learning and child care agreements with province

Effective June 1, 2026, Alberta has introduced new interim transparency measures for licensed childcare programs when a high-risk, potentially criminal incident is reported. For childcare operators, directors, and licence holders, this is more than a simple communication update. It represents a shift in how serious incidents are managed, documented, communicated, and made visible to families. The goal is clear: strengthen parent awareness and confidence by showing that approp

Running a childcare program has never been a simple job. But in today’s early learning and childcare sector, the role of an operator has become more complex than ever. Operators and directors are expected to understand licensing, funding, staffing, parent communication, financial sustainability, policy changes, compliance expectations, human resources, enrolment, advocacy, and long-term growth — often without ever receiving formal business training designed specifically for t

Summer enrollment does not need to be a missed opportunity. Learn how to position your program around affordability, consistency, trusted educators, and reliable full-day care for families.

Workforce stability is one of the biggest pressures facing child care operators. Practical leadership systems, consistent communication, and clear documentation can help stabilize teams and strengthen operations.

Opening a child care program in Alberta is still possible, but operators need to understand how funding access, licensing timing, and policy changes may affect their financial model.