Our Team
Berry Family Child Care Society takes the recruitment, screening, and interview process of our staff very seriously. We believe thoughtful consideration for employment, support and retention of staff ensures the continued success of our early year’s program. Our founding members work alongside staff with positivity and enthusiasm which has earned them a great deal of respect within the childcare industry. They meet regularly to reflect with staff members about their ongoing performance, discuss areas for improvement and plan individual professional development goals to enhance their skills and knowledge. Diversity in staff is recognized and valued. Each staff member brings unique gifts which are honoured and shared with the children and families we serve. At Berry Family Child Care Society, we believe an environment that attracts and retains dedicated and qualified staff leads to exceptional care for children. Retention of staff is crucial for providing structural stability for our programs and families and is essential in maintaining connected relationships with children.
Cathi
Cathi is a founding member of the Berry Family Child Care Society. She is compassionate, honest, highly motivated and patient with a history of innovation and dedication.
She has been working on the North shore with children and families for over 20 years, both in administrative and teaching roles.
She received her Early Childhood Teaching degree in 1992 from Christchurch Teachers College in New Zealand, as well as her Early Childhood Education Degree with, Infant, Toddler and Special Needs Certification from Capilano University in 1993.
Cathi continuously reflects on her practices and is always expanding her knowledge and skills.
She is passionate about nature, our connection to the land, environmental sustainability, as well as Indigenous teachings.
She is responsible for overseeing all programming and mentoring the staff at Berry Family Child Care Society.
Cathi is a visionary in the child care industry and is the Heart and Soul of the Berry Family. She has a work ethic that is unmatched. Her unwavering commitment to quality childcare is the legacy that we at Berry Family Child Care Society strive to create for our community each and every day.
Cathi lives with her husband, two sons and their three dogs. When she is not trail running or hiking you can find her in her garden or a hockey arena.
Rebecca
Rebecca is a founding member of the Berry Family Child Care Society. She is focused, organized, highly motivated, creative, and passionate with a history of success.
For the past 25 years, she has been self-employed as an Interior Designer and Construction Project Manager. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in budgeting, project implementation, scheduling, licensing and inspections.
She is passionate about supporting parents so that they can find balance both professionally and personally. She is an outside the box thinker and community cultivator. She is a fierce advocate for all children with unique gifts.
Rebecca supports the wonderful team of educators at Berry Family Child Care society, Liaison’s between Vancouver Coastal Health, the District of North Vancouver and the North Vancouver School District.
The Berry Family children enrich her life in incredible ways and words can not express how extremely lucky she feels to be by Cathi’s side.
Rebecca lives with her husband and two sons and loves to spend time in the kitchen cooking for her family or hiking with their Australian Labradoodle Cedar.
Josephine
Josephine grew up on the North Shore and graduated from Windsor Secondary school in the French immersion program. She is the youngest of five girls and was homeschooled from kindergarten thru grade 5.
She was raised in a home that supported many community children and has always been passionate about childcare.
Josephine has a very calm demeanour and an innate ability to connect with children on a personal level. These characteristics allow her to very quickly form a bond of trust and provide a sense of security to children.
She is passionately invested in relationships and community building and is a core member of the Berry Family team.
Josephine received her Early Childhood Education degree from Capilano University in 2021.
She enjoys hiking and outdoor sports and just so happens to be best friends with Lauren!
Lauren
Lauren was born and raised in North Vancouver and has a younger brother and 2 cats.
In her early teens Lauren assisted the educators at Huckleberries, as well as supported Cathi personally with her own family.
From an early age Lauren showed a natural intuition and connection to children.
She carries herself with confidence, has great leadership skills and is highly detailed in planning and safety protocols.
Lauren made her commitment to Early Childhood Education official in 2023 when she completed her ECE Degree at Capilano University.
Lauren has a deep understanding of the Berry Family philosophies and is a core member of our team. She could not imagine doing anything other than working with children and families!
Growing up she played soccer and softball and has always enjoyed the outdoors and exploring.
Jenna
My name is Jenna and I am an Early Childhood Educator here at Huckleberries since July 2021.
I was born and grew up in small town in South Korea and went college for design then I worked as a web designer for a few years. I enjoyed the work I had back in Korea but I realized that it wasn’t the job I really wanted to.
In 2010, I decided to move to Auckland in New Zealand for studying and have an experience living in another Country to find my passion. Luckily I found what I wanted which is Early childhood Education and I completed my Early Childhood Education Certificate in 2011 in Auckland. After getting certificate, I worked at a daycare for 5years in Auckland, New Zealand.
In 2018, I decided to move back to Korea and worked at English Kindergarten for 2 years. I got an opportunity to work at Huckleberries Childcare Centre and decided to move to Canada in 2021.
So, here I am since the day I came to Canada! I feel appreciate working with our sweet kids and am so honored to be part of their journey.
Julia
Julia has been living and working on the North Shore for the past 15 years. She immigrated to Canada when she fell in love with our beautiful city.
Julia graduated from Capilano University in 2017 with an Early Childhood Education, Special Needs and Infant Toddler degree. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work in a variety of childcare settings.
Julia has a family of her own with two children, age four and ten. Being a mom herself, she recognizes the value of a loving, quality childcare environment. This is what she saw in the Berry Family centres, and why she was so keen to join our team. Julia looks at all children as full of potential and creativity with a love of learning together.
She approaches each day as a new adventure. She thoughtfully prepares rich early learning experiences that honour the unique growth of all children holistically.
She uses everyday moments to inquire and wonder and encourage children to explore their interests.
She has a big heart and warm smile that sets each child at ease when they arrive at the centre. Julia loves to explore the outdoors while going camping, hiking or walking with her dog.
Desiree
The North Shore has been Desiree’s home for over 30 years, and it has been the main place where she raised her three sons and two stepsons. Raising her own children had given Desiree such happiness and fulfillment that with all the changes that recently occurred in her life, she decided to take a step back and pursue some time in an area that gives her great satisfaction and joy.
Desiree has a long history of education and experiences. She started out with an associate degree in psychology, got certified in life coaching and life-skills counselling, and then earned a degree specializing in Mystical Research which began her spiritual or metaphysical ministry as a solopreneur.
Later, Desiree became a Registered Nurse and then furthered her education with a master’s degree in nursing focusing on leadership, education, and management. Her graduate work consisted of research about violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV) and the lack of screening by staff nurses in identifying IPV. In identifying this gap in nursing knowledge, she developed an evidence- informed knowledge translation educational module for fourth year nursing students at UBC. (This course has now been implemented into the nursing mental health course.) She also researched nursing students’ attitudes about IPV, new nurse attrition rates, and nurse workplace bullying.
Desiree has worked as an Assistant Director of Care in a Long-Term Care facility, as a Graduate Research Assistant, in Palliative Care, with the Public Health Agency of Canada, in a Medi Spa, and has taught Health Care Assistants remotely.
Desiree is a lifelong learner and as she grows wiser, she strongly desires to connect with her spirit and the land. She has continued her training as a Meditation Teacher, Usui/Holy Fire III Reiki, Shamanic Medicine, and Herbalism. She maintains her part time business as a Personal Leadership Life Coach which includes her podcast Midlife Redesigned and is an author of three books and several eBooks about mental health and wellness.
Antonia
Olá, tudo bem? (Hi there)
My name is Antonia Cecília Oliveira, and I am an Educator on the Berry Family Team.
I was born in the northeast of Brazil, Paraíba, but I moved to São Paulo when I still was a
little child, one of the largest and most important Brazilian cities and I lived there for almost
my entire life.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy, and I also studied Psychology, and today I am
looking to further improve my background by studying Early Childhood Care and Education
at Capilano University.
I have worked in the education field for over 6 years, and I have worked with different age
groups, from Preschool to Middle School, also I have been working with children with
disabilities and cognitive difficulties.
I always dreamed of working in education, due to the influence I had from my grandmother
who was a teacher, and since then, everything related to reading, studying, and discovering
new cultures has become my passion, which is why I love traveling with my husband and
discovery new places and new experiences, and during one of our trips to London and
Portugal, I decided that I would like to live in a place where I could be more in touch with
nature and still be able to continue studying something that I love so much and Canada it was
my choice.
Toby
Hey there my name is Toby Clark! I have been living in North Vancouver for over a decade & now aim on giving back to the community. I have been involved in Pedalheads and Rec Centre Camps over the years and love being surrounded and part of childrens energy. In my off work hours I am attending school for Photography and love to help people and companies capture that special moment. I am very excited to be apart of this team and to be a part of the family!
Paola
Hola a todos!! (Hello everyone!!)
My name is Paola and I’m passionate about children’s development. I’m a Mexican mother of a 5 year old girl and love to learn new creative ways to guide the whole development of children including my own. My work with children started when I was 12 years, volunteering in my Scout group by guiding some of the younger children’s activities. That’s when I found a great connection with kids, since then I’ve been enrolling into different training and practical experience in this area. I’ve lived almost my entire life in Mexico, yet I’ve been in other countries and I can say I love to travel and discover new cultures. In Mexico I had my own business about didactic activities for kids combining nature, horses and farm animals; My main objective was letting children learn through play and joyful time with guided and sensory games where they can reinforce their own and new skills.
I’ve always been guided by my own mission of sharing the best of me wherever I am and I’m so excited to be here in North Van working in what I’m passionate about and getting to know amazing kids and their families. I’m so happy to be part of the Berry family.