Burnaby will benefit from three new child care centres, giving parents access to a total of 124 new licensed child care spaces.

The Province is providing $2.25 million from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund to support the creation of the new spaces, with two centres being built by the City of Burnaby and the other by Organic Early Learning. Organic Early Learning expects to open its new facility in summer 2019, with the two City of Burnaby centres to open in January 2020.

“An investment in child care is an investment in our future. It’s good for families and it’s good for the economy,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care and MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed. “Burnaby is one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C., and these three new centres will help parents who have been struggling to find quality child care to rejoin the workforce or go back to school, knowing that their children are being well cared for in quality programs.”

The City of Burnaby is receiving $2 million to create 50 new licensed child care spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten.

“With this funding, the City of Burnaby will soon be able to offer even more child care that meets the needs of local families,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. “By ensuring there are child care spaces on school grounds, parents have the convenience of dropping their younger kids off at the same place their siblings go to school.”

The city is working in partnership with the Burnaby School District and is seeking a local non-profit organization to provide child care on the grounds of Capitol Hill and Montecito Elementary schools.

“For many years, the Burnaby School District has worked with community partners to help address the critical child care shortage,” said Gary Wong, chair, Burnaby board of eduction. “We welcome the support now being provided by the provincial government and the City of Burnaby. This provides us with new opportunities to assist.”

The City of Burnaby has built five other child care facilities, with each site operated by a non-profit organization. The two new facilities will also be run by non-profits and will offer inclusive care for children with extra support needs, as well as supporting children from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

“These much-needed daycare spaces will help families stay in Burnaby, and that helps businesses and the entire community,” said Mike Hurley, mayor, City of Burnaby.

Organic Early Learning is receiving $250,000 to help build 74 new licensed child care spaces — 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, and 50 spaces for school-aged children. The new centre will help connect children to nature as part of its early childhood education curriculum. Supporting families holisitically is also key, with the centre offering a buddy system to help families who are new to Canada build connections in their community. Hot meals will be included in the cost of care and take-home meals will be available to vulnerable families.

“Organic Early Learning was founded by a group of parents and educators who came together based on a common passion for wholesome child care. We are absolutely delighted at the thought of connecting children, families and communities on the path to a bright future,” said Calvin Tse, co-founder of Organic Early Learning. “The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund has allowed a group’s dream to become reality, and we are very grateful for the support from the Province of B.C.”

Under the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, child care providers can apply at any time throughout the year under a new continuous application process.

The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund is part of the Province’s Childcare BC plan and supports its commitment to give B.C. families access to affordable, quality child care when they want or need it. Since July 2018, the Province has funded more than 4,000 new licensed child care spaces throughout B.C. under its space-creation programs. More new spaces will be announced as projects are approved.

Investing in child care and early childhood education is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus, and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Quick Facts:

• In total, 155 new licensed child care spaces in Burnaby have been approved for funding through Childcare BC’s space-creation initiatives.
• Four child care providers in Burnaby were selected to deliver low-cost child care as part of the Childcare BC Universal Prototype Sites Program:
  • Bee Daycare is providing eight in-home multi-age spaces for children up to age 12.
  • Burnaby South Childcare is providing 24 spaces for children under 36 months.
  • Fairhaven Children’s Centre is providing 37 child care spaces: 12 for children under 36 months and 25 for children aged three to kindergarten.
  • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Child Care is providing 67 child care spaces: 34 for children under 36 months, 25 for children aged three years to kindergarten and eight group multi-age spaces for children up to age 12.
• The City of Burnaby recently received a $25,000 grant to help it undertake a needs assessment and create a child care action plan to support local families over the next 10 years. This funding comes from the Community Child Care Planning Program — a $3-million partnership between the Province and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

Learn More:

For more about Childcare BC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

To learn more about the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund and to apply, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund

To find child care in a nearby community, view the online child care map: http://maps.gov.bc.ca/ess/hm/ccf/

Child care factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/18430

For more information on child care in Burnaby, visit the Burnaby child care resource and referral centre: https://gv.ymca.ca/Locations/Burnaby/Marlborough/Burnaby-New-Westminster-Child-Care-Resource-Refe

To read the release in simplified Chinese, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/NR_Burnaby_New_Spaces_Fund_Chinese_Simplified.pdf

To read the release in traditional Chinese, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/NR_Burnaby_New_Spaces_Fund_Chinese_Traditional.pdf