Children at Harbourview Childcare Centre in Vancouver are engaging their imaginations, developing their creativity, and learning about nature in a newly renovated and expanded facility, playground and surrounding green space.

The completion of the major revamp is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the City of Vancouver and Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. Located at 540 North Penticton Street in Vancouver, the expansion has enabled the creation of seven new child-care spaces, bringing the new total to 32 spaces.

Changes to the green space allow Harbourview Childcare Centre to emphasize environmentally friendly practices like gardening, recycling and outdoor play. Children can plant trees, flowers and vegetables in the gardening centre, exercise on the bike trail or enjoy skits at the outdoor stage area.

The playground now features a running-water swale that surrounds the play area, where children build dams and act on their limitless imaginations.

The ministry invested $455,000 for the renovations, along with a $25,000 playground grant. This funding was complemented by a $648,000 renovation investment and a $17,000 playground grant from the City of Vancouver.

Harbourview Childcare Centre is holding an open house to celebrate its re-opening today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Quotes:

Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"The B.C. government believes in supporting quality child care. This investment has helped create additional child-care space for families at the Harbourview Childcare Centre and has added early development opportunities for children to play, learn and grow in an environmentally friendly setting."

Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver -

"Affordable child care is one of the most pressing needs of Vancouver families, and creating new child-care spaces has been a top priority of the City of Vancouver. The Harbourview Childcare Centre will provide affordable and stable child-care spaces for families in Hastings-Sunrise, and will allow children to play outdoors and in ways that fully support their learning and imagination."

Nancy McRitchie, executive director, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House -

"The Harbourview Childcare Centre has been a very important part of our community for almost 40 years. We are thrilled that we have been able to redevelop, sustain and expand it, so that we can continue to support the children and families."

"We are very appreciative of all the support we have received from the Province, the city, from parents and from the community. We want to especially thank the architect Paula Grossman, on a wonderful design and project."

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government has invested more than $35 million in direct major capital funding to help community partners create more than 6,500 additional licensed child-care spaces in over 400 projects since 2001.
• The capital funding commitment to the Harbourview Child Care Centre was initially made in 2004-05.
• Throughout 2012-13, the B.C. government will spend $296 million on child-care services for B.C. families, a 40 per cent increase since 2000-01.
• This funding goes toward:
• Operating funding for more than 100,000 licensed child-care spaces in communities throughout the province.
• Child-care subsidies, including special need supports, for low and moderate income families - supporting more than 50,000 children.
• BC Child Care Resource and Referral Programs, which offer quality child-care referrals, resources and support to families and providers in over 400 communities throughout the province.
• Minor capital funding to help licensed group child-care providers to upgrade or repair facilities, replace equipment or assist with moving costs.

• The government invested $365 million over three years for full-day kindergarten for five year olds. This is improving early learning while reducing child care pressure on families.
• In addition, the government made a regulation change last year increasing the maximum capacity of after-school child-care programs, resulting in the creation of more spaces.

Learn More:

Parents looking for child care or early childhood development programs can now search two new online maps that offer names, addresses, contact information and details about services offered in communities throughout the province: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/

If you are a child-care operator and would like more information on funding and services offered through the government, go to: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/providers.htm

Contact:

Shae Greenfield
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 508-8403