SD70 will have 142 new spaces for young children as well as before and after school care
More child care spaces are coming to schools in the Pacific Rim School District (SD70), expanding options for families in Ucluelet, Tofino and Port Alberni.
For Port Alberni, Magnolia School Age Care at Howitt Elementary is getting 22 additional spaces. Tofino's Taking Care of Children uaa(t)uk^Ta^na program is bringing 76 more spaces to the community and, in Ucluelet, The Children's Grove will have 44 more spaces.
The provincial government's child care expansion is creating 640 new spaces on school grounds across B.C. This increases options for care for young children as well as before and after school care.
"As the new school year begins, hundreds of new licensed child care spaces on school grounds will make a real difference for families as they figure out their routines for the new school year," said Lisa Beare, minister of education and child care. "These spaces are the result of strong partnerships with school districts. Together, we're supporting parents' access to affordable, high-quality child care where and when they need it most - close to home, right at school and in familiar settings."
The funding for the additional spaces was created by an agreement between the federal and provincial governments. That agreement to continue investing in new child care spaces was renewed by the two governments until 2031.
"Together, we are creating hundreds of new child care spaces in schools across British Columbia," said Anna Gainey, federal secretary of state for children and youth. "This investment will take hundreds of children off wait lists and save parents thousands of dollars in fees. When children have the best start in life, families thrive and all Canadians benefit."
ChildCareBC's space-creation programs have helped to fund more than 41,500 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. Of these, 26,200 are open and providing care for families.
While the province says the spaces are made to be more affordable than other spaces, families who need support with the cost of child care may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit.