Families in 28 communities throughout B.C. will benefit from 1,006 new licensed child-care spaces, announced Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux and Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister John Rustad today at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.

In May 2014, the Province encouraged child-care providers throughout the province to apply for major capital funding to create new licensed child-care spaces for B.C. kids. As a result of this process, 32 child-care providers are receiving a total of $7 million to create new spaces in their communities.

This is the first phase of child-care major capital funding, which allows non-profit and private child-care organizations to:

• Build a new child care facility, including the cost of buying land or a building.
• Assemble a modular building and develop a site.
• Renovate an existing building.
• Buy eligible equipment (including playground equipment) and furnishings to support new child-care spaces in an existing facility.

As stated in the criteria outlined as part of the application process, priority was given to applications to create child-care spaces in underserved areas of B.C. - such as Surrey, Fort St. John and Langford - and on school grounds, where children can smoothly transition from early years’ programs, to the classroom, to after-school care. The organizations receiving funding from the first intake period will create 447 child-care spaces on school grounds and a further 559 child-care spaces in other facilities, two of which are BC Early Years Centres, thus creating a comprehensive one-stop shop for parents looking to access early years services and supports.

The Province is now in the process of working with the successful proponents to sign project agreements that include the specific requirements that providers have identified for each site, such as the need to lease or buy property, obtain local zoning permits and hire contractors to renovate the sites. Construction and renovations for the majority of the approved projects are expected to begin shortly; however, each site’s timelines for completion will differ depending on their individual proposal requirements.

In addition to these 1,000 new spaces, the Province aims to support the creation of an additional 1,000 spaces under the B.C. Early Years Strategy by March 2016. This builds on the approximately 107,000 spaces that government currently supports throughout B.C. The Province will accept applications for the next phase of child-care major capital funding starting early in the new year.

Quotes:

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -

“This government understands the importance, and challenges, of finding high-quality, affordable child care in B.C. Under the B.C. Early Years Strategy, we committed to supporting the creation of 1,000 new child-care spaces by March 2015, and these spaces deliver on that commitment. This is a first step toward the 13,000 new licensed spaces the strategy will support over the next eight years.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation -

“New child-care spaces at facilities like the Victoria Native Friendship Centre are another way the government is investing in early childhood development and early-learning programs. Quality care in a child’s formative years is tied to healthy development later in life, and we are committed to making that care accessible and affordable to all families and communities across B.C.”  

Wayne Robertson, chair, Provincial Child Care Council -

“It’s an exciting time for parents and children in these communities, knowing that these projects are moving forward. When completed, these new licensed child-care spaces will fill areas of need and help give families more options for quality and affordable child care.”

Paul Lacerte, Executive Director, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres -

“This investment builds on the B.C. government’s ORAAP Throne Speech commitment to improve social and economic outcomes for urban Aboriginal Peoples, and on the BCAAFC’s 5x5 Aboriginal Jobs plan. The 5x5 Jobs plan seeks to increase the delivery of Aboriginal child care through Friendship Centres in order to remove barriers to participation in the economy for Aboriginal Peoples.”

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. Early Years Strategy is an eight-year government commitment to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of early-years programs and services for families with young children.
• The Ministry of Children and Family Development also provides child-care subsidies to help low-income families afford child care - helping approximately 45,000 children each year.
• To make child care more affordable for families, government is introducing the B.C. Early Childhood Tax Benefit starting in 2015. The benefit will provide $146 million annually to approximately 180,000 families with children under the age of six years (up to $660 a year per child).
• The Early Years Strategy builds on the $1 billion per year government spends on early learning and childhood development initiatives, services and supports, including:
  • Success by 6®, Children First and Aboriginal early childhood development programs.
  • Full-day kindergarten.
  • Programs that support healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy.
  • Early childhood development care and learning program investments, including public health nursing, Ready, Set, Learn programs and StrongStart BC early learning programs.
  • A variety of programs, services and supports to address the specific needs of children and youth with special needs.
• The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is receiving $495,900 to create 70 spaces for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis children, and children with special needs at the new XaXe Stelitkel Daycare Centre.
• The Victoria Native Friendship Centre provides career and employment services, health and social programs, youth initiatives and arts and cultural practices. Their wheelchair accessible facility currently hosts the Little Paws Preschool, a gymnasium, amphitheatre, meeting rooms, outdoor basketball courts and playgrounds.

Learn More:

For more information on the capital funding program, including applications and criteria, visit:www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/major_capital.htm

To learn more about the current range of early years services in B.C. and the B.C. Early Years Strategy, which aims to make programs and services more integrated, accessible, affordable and higher quality: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/early_childhood/pdf/FamiliesAgenda_EarlyYearsStrategy_web.pdf

For more information on the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, visit: www.vnfc.ca/home

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1553
250 213-5572

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. communities receive 1,006 new child-care spaces

This backgrounder contains more information on the 32 organizations that are sharing $7 million in major capital funding to create a total of 1,006 new child-care spaces in B.C. Funding for the new spaces has been allocated based on the following criteria:

• Non-profit child-care providers are eligible to receive up $500,000.
• Private providers can receive up to $250,000.
• Projects creating new licensed child-care spaces on school grounds will be eligible to receive up to 90% of the total project cost (applicants will be responsible for the remaining 10%); all other projects will be eligible to receive up to 75% (applicants will be responsible for the remaining 25%).
• Not every project application is for the maximum provincial investment, as their projects may be smaller or their costs may be lower (e.g., family providers).
• The actual costs-per-space varies due to a range of factors, including the type of space being built and the community profile.
• For example, a family child-care provider could potentially build new spaces for approximately $500/space, while a group-care provider located in a rural/remote community could potentially have a higher cost per space.

More information on each project will be available once project agreements have been finalized.

Agassiz

• Seabird Island Band is receiving $500,000 to create 36 spaces at Seabird Island Early Childhood Development Centre - 16 school-age spaces and 20 preschool spaces.

Burnaby

• The Simon Fraser University Childcare Society is receiving $500,000 to create 24 spaces for school-aged children at the SFU Child Care Centre.

Chilliwack

• The Montessori Child Growth Society is receiving $20,780 for 64 spaces at a Justice Institute of BC facility - 12 infant/toddler spaces, 16 spaces for children aged three to five years, 18 school-aged spaces and 18 preschool spaces.

Cowichan Bay

• Jitterbugs Childcare is receiving $125,013 to create 18 infant/toddler spaces.

Cumberland

• The Three Tree Early Learning Centre is receiving $64,141 to create eight group multi-age spaces.

Fanny Bay

• The Beachcombers Education Society is receiving $218,853 to create 16 spaces at Little Oysters Preschool, located on the grounds of Beachcombers Community school.

Fort St. John

• The North East Native Advancing Society is receiving $500,000 to create 32 spaces at Nenas Child Care Centre - 12 infant/toddler spaces, 12 school-aged spaces and eight group multi-age spaces.

Golden

• The Golden Community Resources Society is receiving $500,000 to create new spaces at the Golden Early Learning and Care Centre, located on the grounds of Alexander Park Elementary school. The 37 new spaces include 12 infant/toddler spaces and 25 spaces for children aged three to five years.

Harrison Hot Springs

• Harrison Hot Springs Preschool and Childcare is receiving $89,638 to create 20 spaces - 10 infant/toddler spaces and 10 spaces for children aged three to five years.

Kamloops

• The Cariboo Child Care Society is receiving $307,308 to create 32 spaces at Pineridge Elementary school - 24 before/after school-care spaces and eight group multi-age spaces.

Kelowna

• Kelowna Creative Advantage Childcare is receiving $15,036 to create 36 spaces - 16 preschool spaces and 20 spaces for children aged three to five years.

Langford

• The Learning Nook is receiving $27,171 to create eight multi-age family child care spaces.

Langley

• The Noel Booth Before and After School Child Care Centre is receiving $174,402 to create 22 before/after school-care spaces at Noel Booth Elementary school.

Mission

• $21,000 to create 25 spaces for children aged three to five years at the Bloom Childcare Centre & Fine Arts Preschool.

Parksville

• The District 69 Family Resource Association is receiving $26,905 to create 40 spaces for Dolphin Tales Preschool.

Penticton

• Leapin Lizards Daycares Inc. is receiving $205,695 to create 24 before/after school spaces at Parkway Elementary school.

Pitt Meadows

• The Windy Willows Environmental Centre is receiving $26,875 to create 20 spaces for children aged three to five years.

Revelstoke

• Community Connections is receiving $45,120 to create 24 spaces for children aged three to five years at Jumping Jacks Daycare - 16 spaces will be created during the first year of operations, with the remaining eight following the next year.

Richmond

• The Trinity Lutheran Church is receiving $47,236 to create 25 spaces for children aged three to five years at the Trinity's Little Children child-care centre on the church ground.

Salmon Arm

• Kinder Play Child Care is receiving $250,000 to create 44 spaces - 20 preschool spaces and 24 before/after school-care spaces.

Sunshine Coast

The YMCA of Greater Vancouver is receiving a total of $646,860 for two projects:

• $500,000 to create 36 spaces at the Sechelt Learning Centre - 12 infant/toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three to five years. These new spaces will be part of the satellite BC Early Years Centre on the site.
• $146,860 to create 24 spaces at the Gibsons Elementary school - 8 infant/toddler spaces and 16 for children aged three to five years. These new spaces will be part of the new BC Early Years Centre on the site.
  

Surrey

• The Centre for Child Development of the Lower Mainland is receiving $500,000 to create 37 group multi-age spaces at the Centre for Child Development Preschool.
• Kids Zone Child Care Centre Ltd. is receiving $15,250 to create 14 before/after school care spaces on the grounds of Prince Charles Elementary school.
• Little Scholars Learning Academy is receiving $170,795 for 36 spaces - 12 infant/toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three to five years.
• Little Timbers Family Childcare is receiving $7,975 to create eight group multi-age spaces.

Terrace

• Willow Creek Childcare is receiving a total of $424,555 - $250,000 to create 48 before/after school-care spaces and $174,555 for a total of 13 spaces (12 infant/toddler spaces and one space for aged three to five years).

Trail

• The Sunningdale Children’s Centre is receiving $111,143 to create 36 spaces at their Sunningdale Children's Academy - 12 infant/toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three to five years.

Vancouver

• The Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC is receiving $488,295 for 25 spaces at Bumble Bear Daycare for children aged three to five years.
• The West Coast Christian Fellowship is receiving $397,581 to create 40 spaces - 20 before/after school-care spaces at East Village Out-of-School Care and 20 preschool spaces at East Village Preschool.

Sunshine Coast

• The YMCA of Greater Vancouver is receiving a total of $646,860 for two projects:
  • $500,000 to create 36 spaces at Gibsons Elementary school - 12 infant/toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three to five years. These new spaces will be part of the new BC Early Years Centre on the site.
  • $146,860 to create 24 spaces at the Sechelt Learning Centre - eight infant/toddler spaces and 16 for children aged three to five years. These new spaces will be part of the satellite BC Early Years Centre on the site.

Victoria

• Bloom Montessori is receiving $127,500 to create 40 spaces for children aged three to five years.
• The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is receiving $495,900 to create 70 spaces for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis children, and children with special needs at XaXe Stelitkel Daycare Centre - 20 infant/toddler spaces and 50 group multi-age spaces.

Wells

• The Wells and Area Community Association will receive $21,794 for 24 group multi-age spaces at Huckleberry Daycare, which is on the grounds of Wells-Barkerville Elementary school.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1553
250 213-5572