N.S. announces $2.5 million to create 42 new child-care spaces in Kings County

Kings County, N.S. will receive $2.5 million towards expanding childcare centres from the province. (Source: Government of Nova Scotia website)

The Nova Scotia government has announced $2.5 million to create more child-care spaces in Kings County.

The Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education will use the money to purchase and expand the Stepping Stone Preschool and Childcare Centre in Auburn, N.S. The college is adding 42 new spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, expected to be available by next spring, a news release said.

“The Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education is very pleased to continue our partnership with the provincial and federal governments. Thanks to the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, we have been able to add over 170 full-time, high-quality child-care spaces across the province with half located in rural Nova Scotia,” said Joe Malek, president and CEO of the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education.

This is the 11th project announced under the department’s major infrastructure program.

“The demand for child-care spaces in Kings County continues to grow,” said Kings West MLA Chris Palmer on behalf of Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Brendan Maguire. “This investment will add more child-care spaces in our community as well as provide practicum opportunities for future childhood educators.”

Nova Scotia has signed a five-year extension to the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and the Canada-Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, worth more than $1 billion total.

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