More families will have access to affordable, high-quality child care in Kelowna as 53 new licensed child care spaces open.

“The Landmark YMCA child care centre marks an important milestone for families in the Okanagan,” said Rohini Arora, B.C. parliamentary secretary for child care. “Located in the heart of Kelowna, it offers working parents convenient access to high-quality child care and creates more opportunities for children to learn, grow and connect in a safe and inclusive environment. This is an investment in supporting stronger families, deepening community ties and fostering better work-life balance for parents.”

The Province partnered with the YMCA of Southern Interior BC to create new child care spaces with more than $2.4 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. The fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 until 2030-31.

“Canadian families deserve child care that is more affordable and more accessible,” said Anna Gainey, federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth. “Today, we are delivering more spots at the Landmark YMCA, helping to lower costs, ease the pressure on parents and give the best start in life for kids in Kelowna.”

The Landmark YMCA child care centre includes 12 spaces for infant-toddlers and 41 spaces for children 2.5 years to school age. Situated in the heart of Kelowna at Landmark District, a 15-acre business community, the centre will help provide convenient access for local families and working professionals.

“The opening of the Landmark YMCA child care centre is a testament to what we can achieve when community partners come together with a shared vision,” said Alyson Graf, president and CEO, YMCA of Southern Interior BC. “We are proud to help Kelowna families access the quality child care they deserve, right where they live and work. This centre reflects our ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone.”

Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s space-creation programs have helped fund more than 41,500 new licensed child care spaces in B.C., with more than 26,200 of the spaces open. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care spaces is part of the Province’s ChildCareBC plan.

Quote:

Lisa Lock, CEO, Stober Group –

“At Stober Group, we believe that vibrant communities are built on strong foundations of support and opportunity. Partnering with the YMCA to bring the Landmark child care centre to life reflects our commitment to helping Kelowna families thrive. We are proud to provide a space where children can learn and grow and where parents can pursue their careers with confidence, knowing their children are cared for in a safe, welcoming environment.”

Quick Facts:

• ChildCareBC affordability programs are saving families throughout B.C. an average of $6,700 per year on child care fees at more than 160,000 spaces.
• Since 2018, ChildCareBC has kept more than $3 billion in the pockets of B.C. families.
• No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit provides direct, tax-free support, helping about 3.5 million families, including more than 450,000 families in B.C.
• While families can use the benefit however they need, it significantly reduces the burden of child care expenses for many people, cutting them entirely in some cases due to federal, provincial and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide early-learning and child care system. 

Learn More:

For information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund 

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

For information about how to connect to services and help save money, visit the B.C. Benefits Connector: https://gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector

For more information about the Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/early-learning-child-care-agreement/agreements-provinces-territories/british-columbia-canada-wide-2021.html