Decades of Service and Impact for Families and Community
When the Revelstoke Child Care Society (RCCS) opened Stepping Stones Childcare Centre in 1995, it marked the beginning of a long-term commitment to families in the region. More than thirty years later, the community is recognizing a legacy of growth, innovation and collaboration, an effort supported by Columbia Basin Trust.
Meeting Child Care Needs, Then and Now
“We started with 16 child care spaces,” says Tracy Spannier, Co-Executive Director of RCCS, which was founded in 1989. “Today, we operate 89 licensed spaces across two centres. It’s always a race to try to keep up with the increasing needs.”
Revelstoke’s child care journey took a strategic leap forward in 2011, when RCCS conducted a community-wide needs assessment. The result was clear: the town needed more safe, inclusive child care, particularly for infants and toddlers, to support parents in the workforce. This led to the opening of Cornerstones Child Care Centre in 2012.
“We have a team of about 20 now,” Spannier says. “We’re currently hiring more educators and working with School District 19 to add twelve more infant/toddler spaces. The Trust is supporting us with investment in equipment.”
Strategically Investing in People
The Trust’s contributions have been crucial to RCCS’s growth. Investments in Early Childhood Education (ECE) training and wage subsidies have strengthened workforce stability in a high cost-of-living region. “The two-dollar per hour wage subsidy signals respect for the profession and lets educators build sustainable careers,” says Spannier. Carys Gregg, Manager of Care at Stepping Stones, is a clear example.
She began as an Early Childhood Assistant in 2017, and completing her ECE and Infant Toddler and Inclusion/Special Needs certifications bybecame fully qualified in 2024, thanks in part to the Trust’s training wage subsidy.
“The Trust’s support allowed me to continue my education without leaving Revelstoke, which was very important to me,” says Gregg. RCCS has helped many educators gain postsecondary qualifications while remaining in the workforce, ensuring families continue to receive high-quality care.
Planning for the Future
The focus on sustainability extends beyond staffing. Capital grants have helped RCCS upgrade its 1956 facility, including improvements to the HVAC system, building envelope and playgrounds. The creation of an infant/toddler room, a preschool-to-school-age room, and new flooring have all contributed to a better environment for children.
Retired school superintendent Anne Cooper, who serves on the RCCS board as treasurer, emphasizes that Revelstoke’s progress stems from innovative leadership and dedication. “This community has always been at the forefront of child care,” says Cooper. “We’ve had strong strategic plans, stayed current with research and policy, and been open to collaboration with the school district, the Ministry and the Trust.
The Trust’s support for staff recruitment, training and facility improvements has been critical. You can’t run centres without trained staff. The Trust didn’t just support facilities; they helped us train and retain the people who make these programs possible.”
Community Effort that Inspires
Former mayor David Raven, who served during key years of RCCS’s growth from 2008 to 2014, also credits a collective effort. “Revelstoke’s success is the result of a community effort for change,” says
Raven. “We’ve gone from a blue-collar town to one with a strong, advanced educational system.”
He highlights local champions like Cooper and Linda Chell, RCSS Co- Executive Director, for fostering a culture that values early childhood learning. “Revelstoke is well known within regional educational communities.
On a personal level, my granddaughter’s early learning experience was phenomenal compared to the prior generation—she was much better prepared for kindergarten,” he says. “The Trust has supported both infrastructure development and ECE training, which has now spread throughout the Basin.
Other communities have adopted similar programs inspired by what we started here.” Revelstoke has served as an innovative mentor community, sharing its needs assessment model and strategic plans across the Basin. “We opened the first StrongStart centre and the first early learning hub in the province,” says Cooper. “We always share. If others can learn from that, we all benefit.”
A Sustainable Legacy Serving Families and the Economy
For families, accessible, high-quality child care allows parents to work and thrive. For children, it offers rich, supportive learning environments that set the stage for lifelong success.
“We have always taken a proactive approach,” says Spanner. “The Trust is supporting us in building something that lasts.” As the Trust marks its 30th anniversary and RCCS celebrates more than 35 years of service, this milestone shows what’s possible when a community leads with strategy, heart and committed partners.
