Prince Rupert, BC -- Black Press reporter Kaitlyn Bailey covered the story for the Prince Rupert Northern View on March 1, 2023. Here are some highlights from Bailey’s article:

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) has partnered with local high schools in School District 52 to offer a dual-credit course for senior students. Participating students qualify for certification as Early Childhood Education (ECE) Assistants, which could help alleviate childcare staffing shortages on the North Coast. 

Students in the course will earn credit toward their high school graduation and earn credit toward the ECE program at CMTN. Currently, taking part in the program are 19 students from four secondary schools: Charles Hays Secondary School, Pacific Coast School, Hartley Bay School, and Lach Klan School. 

According to Vicki Mackenzie-Denis, CMTN’s ECE program coordinator and instructor, having qualified ECE assistant staff will help struggling centres keep their doors open to support working families in various communities. 

“Depending on the individual care facility, having ECCE staff may allow for increased childcare spaces and will support overworked certified ECCEs,” says Mackenzie-Denis. 

The current course offering will complete at the end of April and is the first of two sessions to be presented in a trial of the new dual-credit program.

For the full story, visit The Northern View: New program qualifies Prince Rupert high school students to be ECE assistants 

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Media Contact

Heather Bastin

Executive Director, External Relations

hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca