Deputy Minister's Bulletin branding logo
Deputy Minister's Bulletin
Skip to navigation Skip to Contents Skip to Accessibility Statement
Search Menu
Home Previous Bulletins External Archive

Friday May 9, 2025

Kaye Krishna
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care

250-880-3451
Kaye.Krishna@gov.bc.ca

Happy Child Care Provider Appreciation Day! We have a couple of articles this week that highlight the role of child care providers in this province and how the Ministry of Education and Child Care is supporting them.

I would also like to draw your attention to a correction notice on funding school food programs. This article updates information from a Bulletin that was shared April 4.

In addition to those items, please see the notice about the new Infrastructure Projects Act that was introduced in the legislature last week. There are also resources on an array of topics, ranging from youth substance use to exploitation prevention and a few different communities of practice that may interest various members of your school communities and beyond.

Wishing you a lovely, restful weekend.

Kaye

For Action

For Information

  • Infrastructure Projects Act

    Published

    Infrastructure Projects Act

    On May 1, 2025, Bill 15 (the Infrastructure Projects Act) was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. This legislation supports government’s work to accelerate delivery of major infrastructure projects in B.C. to deliver core public services, including K-12 schools. 

    This legislation introduces new tools to the ministry, including:

    • Speeding up approvals for priority provincial infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals.
    • Prioritizing and accelerating provincial permitting for other designated projects.
    • Allowing designated projects to access an expedited environmental assessment process allowing for faster review without compromising B.C.’s high environmental standards.
    • Establishing a framework for alternative permit authorizations through an agreement-seeking approach with local governments.

    The Infrastructure Projects Act will also enable the new Ministry of Infrastructure to work collaboratively with school districts, health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf. This will allow government to group multiple projects into a single procurement or allow government to purchase project components for multiple projects at a single time, supporting more efficient and cost-effective project delivery.

    During development of this Act, school districts, the BC School Trustee Association and the BC School Superintendents Association were engaged and provided feedback on potential opportunities and challenges. When the legislation is passed, there is significant work to be done on regulation development and we will inform you of next steps and future opportunities to engage.

    ||

  • Correction: April 4 DM Bulletin – 2024/25 National School Food Program and 2025/26 Feeding Futures Funding

    Published

    Correction: April 4 DM Bulletin – 2024/25 National School Food Program and 2025/26 Feeding Futures Funding

    Please note that a correction has been made to the Feeding Futures and National School Food Program spending criteria and question and answer documents that were sent out through the April 4 DM Bulletin to include revised timelines for distribution of 2025/26 and 2026/27 National School Food Program funds.

    |

  • erase Community of Practice – May 13, 2025 – Current Trends/Updates and Youth Radicalization

    Published

    erase Community of Practice – May 13, 2025 – Current Trends/Updates and Youth Radicalization

    Safer Schools Together (SST) and the Ministry of Education and Child Care are hosting a Community of Practice session on May 13, 2025, from 3:15–4:30 pm PDT. In this session, data and trends will be discussed, specifically negative digital climate/culture and radicalization. Additional topics to be covered include the 764 online network targeting youth, the incel movement, true crime community and other relevant topics.  

    Register through the Community of Practice web page, which includes guiding questions to facilitate the discussion. Please reach out to the Student Safety Team at erase@gov.bc.ca for more information or if you have questions.  

    |||

  • Understanding and Addressing Youth Vaping in School Communities Webinar

    Published

    Understanding and Addressing Youth Vaping in School Communities Webinar

    The BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre and School Health Promotion team are hosting a free webinar for school staff that will cover the effects of vaping on health and learning, the role schools can play in vaping prevention and how to support students and address vaping that may be happening in schools. The webinar will be hosted on May 21, 2025, from 12:00–1:00 pm PDT. Please register in advance. 

    |

  • erase Organized Crime and Exploitation Prevention Information Series – Foundry BC’s School-based PreVenture Program

    Published

    erase Organized Crime and Exploitation Prevention Information Series – Foundry BC’s School-based PreVenture Program

    As part of their erase Organized Crime and Exploitation Prevention Information Series, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) is hosting a presentation on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 10:30 am-12 pm PDT on Foundry BC’s PreVenture program. Presenter Sherry Hanna, Prevention Program Manager at Foundry Central Office, has been supporting school districts across the province with delivering the PreVenture Program to their students for over seven years.

    PreVenture is an evidence-based program that equips students with self-efficacy and cognitive behavioural skills to help them cope with common challenges such as stress, peer pressure, interpersonal conflict and identity development, while preventing the early initiation of substance use. Foundry provides comprehensive support to schools across BC, including training for school staff, access to ongoing implementation and coaching resources. Foundry also covers all program participation costs to support the program’s success and sustainability.

    This session will introduce the program, discuss the evidence that backs it and will connect interested schools and districts to the Foundry’s PreVenture team. PreVenture facilitators must be teachers, mental health professionals, counsellors, social workers or masters-level prevention specialists.

    Additional time will be set aside for questions and discussion. If you have questions you would like to send in advance, please reach out by email to SOC.hub@gov.bc.ca.

    Registration for this session is now open.

    This is the twelfth presentation in PSSG’s erase series.

    |||

  • Supporting Students Through Times of Change: An Educator’s Guide

    Published

    Supporting Students Through Times of Change: An Educator’s Guide

    The ministry, in partnership with Open Parachute, has released Supporting Students Through Times of Change: An Educator’s Guide. This free resource aims to support educators and school staff in guiding students through major life transitions. While educators are not responsible for providing specialized mental health support, they play a crucial role in noticing when students are struggling and referring them to appropriate help.

    ||||

  • Mental Health and Substance Use Language Guide for Families and School Communities

    Published

    Mental Health and Substance Use Language Guide for Families and School Communities

    The ministry has partnered with BC Children’s Hospital to release a new resource for BC K‑12 families. The Language Matters! Understanding Mental Health and Substance Use: A Resource for Families and School Communities is a companion resource to the educator guide, designed to help parents, guardians and caregivers of school-age children (ages 5‑11) and youth (ages 12‑18) learn more about common language and concepts on mental health and substance use.

    |

  • Child Care Provider Appreciation Day

    Published

    Child Care Provider Appreciation Day

    Today is Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. Child Care Provider Appreciation Day is part of Child Care Month. Each May we recognize and celebrate the importance of child care and all child care professionals throughout B.C., including the child care workforce and providers, who contribute towards making quality, affordable child care accessible for families living in B.C.   

    The Honourable Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care, shared her appreciation noting:  

    “Our ChildCareBC plan is only possible because of the expertise and dedication that thousands of child care professionals in B.C. bring to work every day. I want to recognize and thank each and every one of you for the social and educational benefits you provide that improve the lives of children and families throughout B.C., and for your key role in the economic fabric of British Columbia.   

    “This Child Care Month, and every month, thank you for everything you do to make child care in B.C. a reality. You are supporting B.C. families and making our province stronger and more resilient.”  

    Thank you to all the child care professionals today and everyday for everything you do to enrich our community. 

    |

  • Added Functionality for My ECE Registry

    Published

    Added Functionality for My ECE Registry

    My ECE Registry is a new digital platform that streamlines early childhood educator (ECE) certification by enhancing transparency and reducing wait times for applicants. Since the My ECE Registry platform was launched in December 2024, the ministry has continued to add new features to the platform to enable more ECEs to start work sooner.

    My ECE Registry users can now conveniently and securely access the platform through their BC Services Card or their Basic BCeID account. Applicants who have out-of-province and international ECE education or experience or at an unrecognized ECE Program within Canada will now benefit from being able to access the My ECE Registry digital platform. These new upgrades to My ECE Registry will expedite the process for ECE certification in BC.

    As of April 25, 2025 PDF applications have been removed from the ECE Registry website as  applicants can now track their application and renewal status in real time, 24/7, from any computer or mobile device. If you need assistance using the My ECE Registry portal or require access to the PDF applications, contact the ECE Registry at 1-888-338-6622.

    |