Sue Lissel
Sue Lissel is the Manager of Make Children First in Kamloops. Make Children Fist is a community coalition of professionals, individuals and organizations that work together to make Kamloops the best place to raise a child. MCF ensures the community's resources and programs are in place and readily available to children and families.
Barb Fedora
Barb Fedora is a Family Support Worker at the Aboriginal Friendship Society in Kamloops, BC. She has been working in the industry for 23 years with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal families within the community. Barb facilitates different programs at the Friendship Society that focus on children 0-6.
Connie Alger
Connie Alger is part of the Early Childhood Education Faulty at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. Learning about early childhood development is a huge part of the curriculum when it comes to training early childhood educators.
Diane Henry
Diane Henry is the director of the Kamloops Infant Development Program. The program is very specific to children ages 0-3 that have developmental challenges. The staff at Kamloops Infant Development Society intervene when a child is not developing normally and then refer on to other professionals in industry.
Gary Unser
Gary Unser is the Behavior Services Coordinator for the Kamloops Autism Program. He has been working with children and families with autism for 15 years. The program focuses on children age 0-6.
Janis Arner
Janis Arner is the Director of Family Services for the YMCA-YWCA in Kamloops, BC. The YMCA-YWCA provides services for ages 0-5 in supporting children and families. Janis oversees all of the programs offered. Some of the services include the Childcare Resource and Referral Program and the Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program.
Jim Anderson
Jim Anderson is the Executive Director of Venture Kamloops. The number one economic concern when people consider moving to Kamloops is the cost of housing. This is one of the biggest concerns for families with young children.
Josee Lang
Josee Lang is a Transitional Family Support Worker at Interior Community Services. You need to create dependence before you can receive independence from your child. Once your child begins showing initiative to do things independently, it’s important to acknowledge it.
Ken Christian
Ken Christian is part of Kamloops City Council and is the former Chairmen of Kamloops Board of Education. An early determinant of a health suggests that early childhood development is one of the aspects of making a healthy population. It’s all about strengthening families, making children resilient and healthy.
Kris Weatherman
Kris Weatherman is a Public Health Nurse and the Public Health Nurse Manager at Interior Health Authority. Kris has worked in the health sector her whole career. In public health, there is a large focus on young families and children.
Maureen Doll
Maureen Doll is the Kamloops Early Language and Literacy Initiative Coordinator. It’s imperative that parents spend face-to-face time with their children because that is how children learn. In this video, Maureen explains that there is no such thing as an interactive television show. Parents need to engage and communicate with their child.
Pauline
Pauline Saxy is the Aboriginal Cultural Support Worker at the Aboriginal Friendship Society in Kamloops, BC. A child needs to feel grounded. During the early years, it’s important for a child to learn about their cultural background and sense of identity.
Shane & Angela Jensen
Shane and Angela Jensen are parents to two children and live in Kamloops, BC. In this video, Shane and Angela talk about their family. They have a daughter and son that have opposite personalities!
Kloee & Mikeal
Kloee, Mikeal and their son Kaiden are Kamloops residents. When Kaiden was born, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and other health complications. At the time of his birth, Kaiden never received an official diagnosis. It was difficult for parents Kloee and Mikeal to take Kaiden home for the first time and detach him from health monitors.
Shannon Speed
Shannon Speed is an Occupational Therapist at the Children’s Therapy and Family Resource Centre in Kamloops, BC. A children’s occupational therapist is a professional that works with children to improve their cognitive, physical and motor skills.
Wayne Tresierra
Wayne Tresierra works at Interior Community Services and is the facilitator of Roots of Empathy and Caring Dads. Wayne is also part of another community program called Family Service where they go into the home and spend time with families.