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What we love most about our work are the people we work with. We’re very proud of our natural play community here at Natural Pod and to celebrate some of the people in our community, we’ve started a short series we’re calling our Natural Play Community People Profiles. Short interviews with some of the great people leading the work of using natural play to inspire creativity, learning and compassion in our early learning, kindergarten, preschool and daycare communities.

Our featured natural play community profile person this week is: Sharon Gregson from Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society

What inspired you to be an educator?

Since being a young mother myself many years ago I have been struck by the absolute importance of the early years for life-long well-being, the significance of access to affordable child care for women’s equality, and the value to the economy when children experience quality early childhood education and their parents are able to participate in jobs, training and the community.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your work?

Children who thrive with quality early learning and care, educators who are well-educated and well-respected, families who benefit from access to services, and successful advocacy efforts to ensure decision-makers are aware of the value and importance of investment in the early years.

What best describes the unique aspects of the program that you offer?

High quality early learning and care for 0-12 year olds in East Vancouver focused on the Reggio Emilia approach.

If you had a magic wand, what would you change in your learning environment?

I would increase government funding so that fees were affordable for families, wages were improved for educators, and quality learning environments were always available for children.