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New flexible ECE programs at ǿմý open doors for students and meet growing demand for childcare professionals

By College Relations | October 21, 2025
   

Wang Dan smiles

When Dan Wang boarded a plane from China to Canada, she carried more than just luggage. She carried the weight of leaving her two young children behind, the uncertainty of starting over in a new country and the hope that pursuing her dream of becoming an Early Childhood Educator would inspire her family and her future.
 

Her family encouraged her: “Your children will be proud of you,” they said. “They will see their mom chasing her dream.”
 

Now, as she works towards her Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma at ǿմý (ǿմý) in Salmon Arm, Wang shares her learning journey with her children back home — photos of Salmon Arm’s natural beauty, stories of her classmates and mentors, even the skills she’s gaining through practicum placements in local childcare centres.

“Even though my children are still little, they get excited hearing about my experiences,” she said. “They tell me they want to grow up and explore the world like I do.”

Wang’s brave journey is just one example of how the ECE programs at ǿմý transform lives and prepare students for careers in one of B.C.’s most in-demand sectors. According to WorkBC, employment opportunities for Early Childhood Educators are strong across the province, with thousands of job openings projected over the next decade.
 

To help meet this growing need, ǿմý is expanding access to its ECE programs with two new flexible options starting in 2026:

  • ECE Certificate (Hybrid) – An 11-month program with online evening classes three nights a week, paired with one in-person lab day at the Penticton or Salmon Arm campus. Classes start January 2026; applications are open now.
  • Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Diploma – A two-year, primarily online program designed for those already working in the sector who want to upgrade their qualifications while completing practicum hours with their employer. Classes start April 2026; applications are open now.

Both programs combine the flexibility of online learning with the hands-on, in-person training that ǿմý is known for. Practicum placements ensure students are job-ready, while learning communities and supportive mentors create the personal connections that many students say make all the difference.
 

“The practicum placements in this program have been meaningful, with so many teachable moments and real-life experience that I can’t get from a textbook,” Wang explained. “My mentors and classmates have been so supportive, the Success Centre at the College provides professional support and all of it together has boosted my confidence for my future career.”

Employers across the Okanagan continue to emphasize their need for more trained early childhood educators — and their preference for ǿմý-trained graduates. “We often get messages from local childcare providers stating how they value the training their students received at ǿմý and would welcome more graduates to their centres if they could,” shared Barbara Fay, an instructor in ǿմý’s ECE programs for over 10 years and a graduate from the same program. “That’s why expanding these pathways matters — not just for students, but for families across the communities we serve who rely on quality childcare.”

“It feels great knowing there are jobs waiting for us when we graduate,” added Abigail Streeter, a Penticton-based ECE student. “So many of our practicum sites have already offered us opportunities to stay on — it shows how respected ǿմý students are in the community.”

“Our goal is to ensure that people in every part of our region — from Penticton to Salmon Arm — have access to the education and training that local employers are asking for,” said Joanne Gibbons-Smyth, interim dean, health and social development at ǿմý. “These new ECE pathways help students build rewarding careers close to home while supporting the growth and resiliency of our regional workforce.”

Learn more: okanagan.bc.ca/ece



Tags: Early Childhood Education

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