The B.C. government is honouring the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and Hastings Race Course with a Partnerships Award as part of the 2018 Child Care Awards of Excellence.

These two organizations have worked together to build Hastings Park Child Care Centre, which offers 44 licensed, inclusive child care spaces to families in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood of Vancouver.

The centre, run by Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, was founded to support parents who worked at the Hastings Racecourse. This mission is still key. The centre opens at 5:30 a.m., seven days a week, during racing season to help staff who are starting in the early morning or working over the weekend.

“This child care centre is a perfect example of what can happen when organizations work together to meet the needs of their community,” said Shane Simpson, MLA for Vancouver-Hastings. “From its humble beginnings as a shared space with the grandstand bar almost 20 years ago, to a purpose-built LEED building that now stands next to the track, the centre has a long history of providing high-quality child care to local families.”

Children at the Hastings Park Child Care Centre are encouraged to explore local parks and gardens in and around the PNE to learn about the world around them. With the track beside their playground, the children have opportunities to see the horses up close and to learn from the trainers and groomers who care for the horses.

The centre also teaches the children how to work with and respect their peers from an early age. This collaborative spirit led to children at the centre winning a naming contest in 2017, as Slidey Slides was chosen by Vancouver Parks Board as the name of the new playground at Empire Field.

“Staff at Hastings Park Child Care Centre regularly go above and beyond in engaging parents and supporting children at every stage of their early development,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. “This award is testament to the strong partnership that this centre is built on, as well as the hard work and care of the staff who make a difference to families every day.”

Quick Facts:

• The Child Care Awards of Excellence recognize the exceptional contributions made throughout British Columbia by early childhood educators, licensed child care providers, organizations and local governments.
• Award recipients were nominated by peers, parents and local governments.
• The ministry received 66 nominations for this year’s awards.

Learn More:

View photos from the ceremony here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/31002399708/in/datetaken-public/

For more information about child care in British Columbia, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare