Education and Child Care
Summary
- School districts can access new funding to accelerate creation of before- and after-school child care spaces
- Targeted funding creates opportunities for school districts to pursue new ways of creating child care spaces quickly and cost effectively, and will help inform future approaches to space creation
- Nearly 900 new child care spaces in 17 communities have opened in B.C. in 2026
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School districts can now apply for support to accelerate the creation of before‑ and after-school care spaces throughout the province.
Funding is available for schools to repurpose existing space, which will help cover startup costs that come with launching new child care programs.
“Schools are community hubs and this funding will help schools turn available space into much-needed before‑ and after-school child care, faster,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “School districts have been clear; this support is critical to creating more child care spaces for families. Our government remains focused on building a child care system that works for families now and is sustainable long into the future.”
Expanding space creation
School districts will have access to a new provincial investment to create before- and after-school child care spaces as early as fall 2026.
The Ministry of Infrastructure is providing $5 million in child care capital funding to support renovations and the repurposing of existing space in school buildings to create new child care spaces. This program is the first of its kind, building on the Province’s work to look at innovative ways of creating spaces more efficiently. Successful applicants will be eligible to access additional funding through the Ministry of Education and Child Care to support opening these spaces, including $20 million to support operating costs for new child care programs over the next three years.
“Building stand-alone facilities can be costly and time-consuming,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “By making better use of space schools already have, this approach reduces barriers and encourages school districts to plan and invest in their current infrastructure. This program supports our work to find new ways of creating child care spaces and lessons learned from this program will allow government to creatively shape space creations moving forward.”
To further encourage the creation of child care spaces on school grounds, a recent ministerial order requires boards of education to identify available space in elementary schools. Boards of education are uniquely positioned to assess community need for child care. This targeted planning will help districts and the Province understand when and how existing space can be used for new or expanded child care programs.
Creating more child care throughout B.C.
As this funding rolls out, the Province continues to support the opening of new child care spaces for all ages to serve families throughout B.C.
Between January and June 2026, families in 17 communities will have gained access to nearly 900 new child care spaces. These new spaces will provide greater access for families that have faced barriers to finding affordable, high-quality child care close to home.
These spaces were made possible by an investment of more than $64 million through ChildCareBC. These spaces were 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 have signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Since 2018, ChildCareBC investments have helped increase the number of licensed child care spaces in B.C. by nearly 59,000. There are also approximately 12,000 funded child care spaces in development throughout B.C.
Helping more B.C. families
Families who attend the newly opened centres and those that will be created through funding from the Ministry of Infrastructure will benefit from affordable child care fees, through the ChildCareBC fee-reduction program. This program which reduces the cost of child care by as much as $900 per child per month.
Families that need additional support with the cost of child care may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which can eliminate fees for families most in need.
Quotes:
Anna Gainey, federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth –
“Access to affordable child care is making a real difference for B.C. families. Partnering with the Government of British Columbia, we are making nearly 900 new child care spaces available across 17 communities, taking children off waitlists and ensuring they get the best start in life.”
Jodie Wickens, MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain –
“As a busy parent, I understand the importance of having access to affordable, high-quality child care close to home. It’s wonderful to see more child care spaces coming online for families in the region. I am proud to be part of a government that continues to invest in building a child care system that works for families.”
Heidi Worthington, president and CEO, YMCA BC –
"YMCA BC is delighted to see these new investments in expanding child care on school grounds. As the largest not-for-profit child care provider, we know how important it is for parents that their children are in safe, high-quality learning environments during those gaps before and after school, and we look forward to continuing to partner with school districts across B.C. to provide that care."
Micheal Thomas, school board chair, Coquitlam SD43 –
“Coquitlam School District is grateful for the government funding that has helped create child care spaces throughout the district. Through this support, the district has included Neighbourhood Learning Centres with child care at new schools such as Irvine, Coast Salish and Moody Elementary, while also establishing before- and after-school child care programs within existing schools. This investment has proven invaluable to families and communities across SD43.”
Kendra Mann, president, BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils –
“The BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils welcomes the Province’s $5-million investment to help create new child care spaces in existing school buildings. Expanding access to affordable, school-connected child care supports families, strengthens communities, and helps children thrive. We’re also encouraged by the additional $20 million set aside to support operating costs for these new child care programs over the next three years.”
Quick Facts:
- Parents have saved more than $3.4 billion through B.C.’s affordability programs.
- The number of certified early childhood educators in B.C. has increased by 13,500, with more than 30,200 certified early childhood educators in the province, an 81% increase from 2018.
- No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit provides direct, tax-free support, helping approximately 3.5 million families every year, including more than 450,000 families in B.C.
- For many families, the benefit significantly reduces the burden of child care expenses, eliminating them in some cases, through the federal, provincial and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.
Learn More:
- For more information about ChildCareBC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare
- 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
A backgrounder follows.
