BC Gov News

Francophone children in Langley are benefiting from child care that will deepen connections to their culture and enrich their learning with the opening of a new French-language child care centre at école des Voyageurs.

“This new child care centre, conveniently located on school grounds, will make life easier for busy Langley francophone families and give them the peace of mind of knowing their kids are well cared for,” said Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care. “We know that access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care is life-changing for families, and by working with the Conseil scolaire francophone, we’re creating French-language child care spaces where they are needed most.” 

The new child care centre, Garderie Les aventuriers, features approximately 40 licensed spaces, including before- and after-school care, and care for children from 30 months to five years old. The centre was made possible through $1.3 million for Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF) from the Province’s 2021 Rapid Renovation Fund.

“Schools are the heart of a community and investments, like this French-speaking child care centre, will help bring families together and preserve the francophone culture,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “We have made historic investments in Langley and are committed to continuing to work with the CSF and school districts to co-locate child care on school grounds.”

Since 2018, the Province has invested $3.9 billion in the 10-year ChildCareBC plan, including funding the creation of more than 31,800 new licensed child care spaces, with more than 1,000 of these spaces in Langley.

“We are deeply grateful to the Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique, the dedicated staff and our partners from the Ministry of Education and Child Care for their work throughout this extensive project,” said Marie-Pierre Lavoie, board chair, CSF. “Their commitment to creating French-speaking living and learning spaces enables children and youth in our region to fully embrace their francophone identity from early childhood.”

Geneviève Lefebvre, a francophone parent with children at the new facility, said: “Our family feels so privileged to be able to attend this new daycare with its perfect location, and we have one drop-off with our oldest at the big-kid school, our second child at the daycare and, in a couple of years, our littlest child will follow in their footsteps. The French language is a big part of our identity. We couldn’t ask for more, as this child care only deepens our roots and strengthens the connections that unite our small francophone community.”

In 2022-23, a new provincial funding stream in the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund was introduced to support the creation of new, licensed, school-age child care on school grounds. Funds are available for school districts, First Nations schools, First Nations independent schools and not-for-profit independent schools to ensure child care spaces are built where they are needed most.

Quotes:

Megan Dykeman, MLA for Langley East –

“Language is an important part of who we are, and this child care centre will help French-speaking families by ensuring that children can consistently connect with their French-speaking heritage and identity throughout the day.” 

Andrew Mercier, MLA for Langley –

“It’s great to know that more francophone families in Langley will be able to send their kids to child care knowing that they can practise their French with their peers and educators ahead of starting elementary school.”

Christian Leclerc, president, Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique –

“We are delighted that Langley-area francophone families now have access to a French-language child care centre offering their children a quality educational program. Les aventuriers child care will support parents in their efforts to transmit the French language and francophone culture to their little ones, and will foster an environment favourable to a strong and thriving Francophone community in the region.”

Learn More:

For information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund school-age care guidelines: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/download/CF6DA238E5CF46E1BA7CF67A2BCBC691

For information about ChildCareBC, visit: https://www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

For information about Garderie Les aventuriers, visit: https://lepharecb.ca/garderie-les-aventuriers/