Who We Are

The Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC (AHSABC) is a nonprofit society representing the urban AHS sites in BC. There are 12 sites in the province, all of which are members of the AHSABC.

Each Aboriginal Head Start site is represented by their Program Coordinator and their elected Parent Representative, and together with the AHSABC, we work in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue to improve the quality of AHS. We also work in collaboration with the Provincial Government to strengthen the quality of Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in British Columbia.

The AHSABC is made up of representatives from each site in BC and was born in the spring of 1998, evolving in December 2001 to an incorporated, nonprofit society. Today, its membership consists of Program Coordinators, who make up the Board of Directors, as well as elected Parent Representatives from each site in BC. The Executive Committee is elected by the membership and consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the BC Representative to the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC) and the Provincial Parent Advisor. The Lead AHS Program Consultant from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the AHSABC Executive Director also participate as ex-officio members on the Executive Committee.  

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities is an early intervention preschool program designed for urban and northern (off-reserve) Aboriginal children. Its primary goals are to support the early childhood development of Aboriginal children and to instill pride in their Aboriginal heritage before they enter the mainstream school system. It focuses on 3 – 5 year olds with the intent of bringing them to the school readiness stage in order to help ensure an easy transition into kindergarten.

Parental involvement is a major factor contributing to the success of the program. Aboriginal Head Start believes that parents are their children's primary teachers and endeavours to involve them at all levels of the program.

Because the Aboriginal Head Start Program is fully funded by the Government of Canada, there is no cost to the participants. The program includes transportation, as well as snacks and/or appropriate meals, such as breakfast or lunch.

Another important aspect is the development of mutually beneficial relationships with related community programs.