Child care is getting less expensive and easier to find in Armstrong as the Province invests in 20 new child care spaces to give more parents the option to return to work, go back to school or pursue other opportunities.

“We know it’s a challenge for towns like Armstrong to create a family-friendly community that attracts new residents and businesses,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. “This new child care centre will not only give parents more choice, but our investments also contribute to a vibrant, family-friendly local economy.” 

Through Childcare BC’s New Spaces Fund, Armstrong Montessori Academy is creating 20 new spaces for children aged three to kindergarten. Staff at the centre are trained to work with children who need extra support and offers a wide variety of programs, including walking field trips within the community — such as a visit to the local fire hall. It also hosts early childhood education (ECE) students for the practicum portion of their studies.

“Our goal is to create a centre that provides a multicultural, social stimulating and community-minded environment that puts children on the path to self-development and success,” said Valerie Brousseau, owner, Armstrong Montessori Academy. “This provincial funding means we can renovate our space to help more children grow, learn and thrive in an environment that nurtures all aspects of their development. Thank you for making affordable and accessible child care a priority.”

Nearly 30 new, affordable licensed child care spaces in Armstrong have been funded by the Province since the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund launched in July 2018. They are part of the fastest creation of child care spaces in B.C.’s history, with more than 10,400 funded in the past 15 months.

With the addition of 900 spaces funded through partnerships with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and Aboriginal Head Start using federal funding, and 4,100 spaces created through the 2017 Budget Update, more than 15,400 spaces have been funded in B.C.

Since launching in February 2018, the Childcare BC plan has helped parents in Armstrong save more than $450,000 through the Affordable Child Care Benefit and Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.

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:

• The Province has made significant investments to improve supports for B.C.’s early care and learning professionals.
• To date, the Province has invested more than $13 million to provide more than 10,000 early childhood educators with a $1-per-hour wage enhancement, with another $1-per-hour lift to come in April 2020. This includes nearly $14,000 for ECEs in Armstrong.

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 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 about child care in Armstrong, visit the Vernon Child Care Resource and Referral Centre: http://childcarechoices.ca/main/Interior/Vernon/