Issue # 7 of the Here & Now begins by wishing our early childhood colleagues an enjoyable and restorative summer, and recognizing the seriousness currently faced by many, trying to stay safe during heat warnings and/or being confronted by painful trauma reignited by Pope Francis’ apology to survivors and families for harmful legacies wrought by the Catholic-run Residential School system. This month's Here & Now responds to an unprecedented year of federal and provincial governments making bold and necessary moves to support the creation of a nationally-funded early learning and child care (ELCC) system.

Issue #6 of the Here & Now, ECPN’s newsletter engages with Reimagining the role of ‘educating early childhood educators’ in BC. Last month’s edition of the Here & Now highlighted issues raised by ECEBC’s call to radically reimagine The Role of the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in British Columbia. This month’s issue extends this important conversation by asking: what kind of education might need to be in place to realize this new vision?

The fifth issue of Here and Now engages with critical questions that consider a new vision of the role of the educator in connection with the role of the pedagogist, as a professional figure who walks with educators and young children along the path of reconsidering what it means to live well together within the here and now of a rapidly changing world.

This fourth issue from the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network responds to the BC Government’s commitment to invest $125,000 to expand the Just Be Four (Just B4) early childhood education program. The Just B4 programs are licensed BC half-day early years programs for children entering kindergarten the following year. With the introduction of this initiative, there is an opportunity to ask critical questions regarding the values that shape early childhood education policy.

This third issue from the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network responds to Canada's transition towards a universal child care system. The Network notes that a just transition requires clarity on how moving to a publicly funded national public system will be capable of honouring the needs and realities of local communities. Specific to BC, the Network suggests this means supporting early childhood educators who have high levels of education and ongoing professional development to promote understandings of the important role they play in upholding the vision and commitments to young children and their families as highlighted in the BC Early Learning Framework.

Contributing to the government of British Columbia's ongoing consultation with childcare partners, the second issue from the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network invites readers to engage with theme #2 of BC child care plan—educators’ obligations and responsibilities towards difference and diversity. This issue provides critical questions to facilitate thinking about systemic exclusions of children and their families, as well as information on how to engage in the conversation and pedagogical events taking place in January 2022.

Responding to the new pieces of early learning and child care legislation enshrined in BC law, the first issue from the Early Childhood Pedagogy Network invites readers to respond to Bill 14, 2021. The issue also poses questions that promote thinking about who is the child and educator that the new Act(s) are serving.