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Ministry of Children and Family Development

Government Communications and Public Engagement
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Childcare BC New Spaces Fund creates more options for families

Learn more about the new child care spaces that are coming for families in Castlegar, Nakusp, Nelson and Winlaw.

Tarry’s Childcare Centre (Castlegar)
The Blueberry Creek Community School Council is building and operating a new child care centre at Tarry’s Community Hall. With a total of 20 new spaces, the centre will provide care for infants and toddlers through to after-school care. Local students preparing for a career in early childhood education will receive work experience through placements at the new centre. The Columbia Basin Trust also provided funding for the facility, which is expected to open in September 2021.

Nakusp Child Care Centre HUB (Nakusp)
Opening in May 2022, School District 10 (Arrow Lakes) is building a new child care centre connected to Nakusp Elementary school that will create a total of 96 new licensed spaces – 12 infant/toddler spaces, 24 spaces for children up to the age of 12 and 60 before- and after-school spaces. Children will have access to cultural programming through partnerships with the Indigenous Education Advisory Council, the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society and Métis community, including the opportunity to learn French, Sinixt and Michif. A partnership with Selkirk College will allow high school students to gain dual high school and college credits through work experience as early childhood educators. The Columbia Basin Trust also provided funding for the facility.

Enchanted Forest (Nelson)
Renovations to the main floor of a house added eight new multi-age child care spaces that opened for families in September 2020. Enchanted Forest is focusing on delivering inclusive care for infants and toddlers and those with sensory disorders. The Columbia Basin Trust also provided funding for the facility.

Our Place (Winlaw)
Located at Winlaw Elementary school, the 20 new spaces at Our Place will provide much-needed child care for school-aged children in the Winlaw community. School District 8 (Kootenay Lake) will operate the before- and after-school child care for $10 per day. Priority for the new spaces will go to vulnerable children. The Columbia Basin Trust also provided funding for the facility, which is expected to open in September 2021.