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Centre for Early Learning

Merecroft

  • 827 Merecroft Road, Campbell River

uaa(t)uk^Ta^na (Taking Care of Children) - Closing August 2025

  • 235 Fourth Street, Tofino

Howitt - Closing June 2025

  • ​3867 Marpole Street, Port Alberni

8th Ave 

  • ​3061 8th Avenue, Port Alberni

Pipers

  • 100-4750 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo

Little Tots

  • 3507 Littleford Road, Nanaimo

Rock City

  • 3741 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo

Cedar Sprouts 

  • ​1791 Woobank Road, Nanaimo

3rd Ave

  • 730 3rd Avenue, Ladysmith​​

LPS

  • 510 6th Avenue, Ladysmith

Saltair

  • 3850 South Oyster School Road, Ladysmith

Chemainus

  • 3172 Garner Street, Chemainus

Palsson

  • 9 Grosskleg Way, Lake Cowichan

Eagle View

  • 97 Talcott Road, Victoria

Craigflower

  • 2766 Admirals Road, Victoria

Dellwood 

  • 936 Dellwood Rd, Esquimalt

Willows  

  • 2290 Musgrave Street, Victoria

Edith McDermott

  • 12178 Bonson Road, Pitt Meadows

Fairview 

  • 12209 206th Street, Maple Ridge

Windbreakers

  • 2060 Pala Mesa Place, Kamloops

Happyvale 

  • 1640 A & B Happyvale Avenue, Kamloops

Ralph Bell

  • 1780 A & B Valleyview Drive, Kamloops

Alward - Coming Soon!

  • 1511 Alward Street, Prince George

Child Care from

Birth to 12 years

& Preschool

At ILM, we are grateful to be working, educating, playing, and learning on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples throughout British Columbia. We recognize and honor the deep history, culture, and contributions of the First Nations who have cared for these lands since time immemorial.

 

As uninvited guests, we are committed to fostering respectful relationships and continuing to learn from the wisdom and knowledge of Indigenous communities. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

 

ILM strives to create inclusive spaces where children, families, and staff can connect, grow, and thrive together in a spirit of understanding and respect for these lands.

About

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Inquiring Little Minds (ILM) was founded in September 2011. The Saltair Childcare Society (SCS) and ILM work together in a private-public partnership (a long-term arrangement between a government institution and a private sector institution). We also work in partnerships with the City of Port Alberni, Cowichan Valley School District, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, Kamloops-Thompson School District and Saltair Community Society.

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ILM facilities are dedicated to the provision of safe, well-managed childcare services for children that are provided by full and part-time, qualified staff. ILM's goal is to stimulate emotional growth, independent growth, intellectual growth, physical growth, and social growth amongst its charges.

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Services provided by ILM to the public include:

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  • Full and part-time child care ages 0 to 12 years.

  • Resource programs for children with special needs.

  • Before and after school care for school-age children.

 

We also provide subsidized services for parents in need (as determined by the Ministry of Children and Families' assessment).



The ILM Education Center's philosophy is based on the Early Learning Framework (ELF) and uses the principles of the inquiry method of education. After traveling to learn about the Reggio Emilia Approach in Italy, ILM incorporated the principles of play, creativity, and socialization. We are licensed through the Ministry of Health. Our license numbers are: 285408 (Merecroft), 282642 (Taking Care of Children), 281845 (8th Ave), 282643 (Howitt), CFRN-BUKMT8 (Pipers), 276400 (Little Tots), 279479 (Rock City), 281843 (Cedar Sprouts), KRIS-B89V9Y (3rd Ave), CLEY-C6VVKM (LPS), TMGN-8K8UB7 (Saltair), 277421 (Chemainus), 275131 (Palsson), 279555 (Eagle View), 280675 (Craigflower), 285762 (Dellwood), 282629 (Willows), CWOG-D7XS4B (Edith McDermott), CWOG-D7XSPF (Fairview), F-2023-50504 (Ralph Bell), F-2023-51002 (Happyvale), and F-2023-51000 (Windbreakers)

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ILM's founder, Alisha Neumann, has earned a Master of Education in Distance Education (Athabasca University, 2020), and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (University of British Columbia, 2017). Previously, Alisha completed an Early Childhood Education Diploma (Northern Lights College, 2015). Alisha also graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education (2007) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science (2003) at the University of Northern British Columbia. ​Alisha's academic/research interests include: measuring and assessing quality; increasing affordability and spaces; creativity; and advocacy for better working conditions and standards for Early Childhood Educators.



Dependant on completed education, ILM staff are qualified with certificates from the Early Childhood Education Registry of British Columbia as either: (a) Responsible Adult; (b) Early Childhood Education Assistant; (c) Early Childhood Educator; or (d) Infant Toddler Educator. All ILM staff have Criminal Record Checks through the Ministry of Justice and valid first aid training. We take advantage of professional development workshops from all over the world to gain different perspectives in Early Childhood Education.

Early Childhood Education Training

If you are interested in working in a child care setting here are several certifications and ways to achieve them.

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Responsible Adult (RA)

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A Responsible Adult is a person who is at least 19 years old and has 20 hours of experience or workshops. The best way to achieve this certification is by completing the following online course. It can be completed at your pace and is not completed with a classroom setting in mind. The course can be found here:

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http://www.workshopsonearlylearning.com/course.html

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Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA OR ECA)

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An ECEA has taken one course in Early Childhood Education either in Health, Safety and Nutrition, Child Development, or Child Guidance. This course can be completed face to face or online at an accredited institution. We can provide you with links to the Colleges that offer Early Childhood Education Training upon request. After successful completion of the course, certification can be requested from the BC ECE Registry.

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http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/training-and-professional-development/become-an-early-childhood-educator/apply-for-ece-ecea-certificate

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Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

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The process for certification as an ECE is much the same as for an ECEA. However, 10 courses or 2 semesters of course work are required for the certificate. Having ECE certification allows you to teach Preschool and run a 3 year old to 5 year old Child Care Room.

 

Infant Toddler Educator (ITE)

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Becoming an ITE requires completing a two-year Diploma in Early Childhood Education. An ITE is able to run an Infant and Toddler room.

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