Danielle Alphonse is the British Columbia Regional Innovation Chair in Aboriginal Early Childhood Development. She holds a Master's in Educational Leadership - VIU, a BA in Child and Youth Care - UVIC, and an Early Childhood Education & Care Diploma - VIU. 

Danielle is from the Cowichan Tribes, lives in Duncan, Vancouver Island and is faculty at Vancouver Island University. She has worked for many years in Aboriginal Education in early childhood/child care settings (infants and toddlers), First Nations Education (FNED) in Victoria working with children in kindergarten as well as high school level students regarding cultural awareness, and as an Aborginal Supported Child Development Consultant (ASCD) at a Victoria agency providing services to urban Aboriginal families. Danielle is in her fourth year as the BCRIC for AECD and is working on a number of exciting community-based initiatives.