B.C. government touts opening of 959 new child-care spaces this fall

Families in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood now have access to a new, non-profit child-care centre at their local school.

More than 900 new child-care spaces are opening in 14 communities across the province this fall, according to the provincial government.

The licensed spaces are provided by non-profit organizations and local and Indigenous governments and funded by nearly $34 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund.

The fund includes both provincial and federal money under the “Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement,” which began in 2021 and has been extended through 2030, the province said in a news release Friday.

“Families throughout British Columbia are seeing new child care spaces open in their communities, giving families real options they can count on,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s minister of education and child care, in the release.

“These spaces mean shorter waitlists, more access to affordable, high-quality child care and peace of mind for parents, knowing children are learning in safe, supportive environments. This is about making life easier for parents today, while investing in stronger communities for generations to come.”

Families whose children receive care in these new spaces will see reduced fees through the provincial fee reduction program, and those needing additional support may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which can bring the cost down to $10 a day or less for those who need it most.

The 959 new child-care spaces that have opened or will be opening this fall, according to the province, are as follows, in alphabetical order by community.

Burnaby

• Rowan Avenue child care; 74 spaces (24 spaces for infant-toddler spaces, 50 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten)

Courtenay

• Puddleduck child care centre; 31 spaces (15 spaces for infant-toddler, 16 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten spaces)

Douglas First Nation (Xa’xtsa)

• Tipella child care centre; 46 spaces (30 spaces for school aged care, 16 multi-age spaces)

Kelowna

• Dilworth Mountain YMCA child care; 48 school aged spaces

Langley

• Cookie Monster preschool; 72 spaces (10 spaces for infant-toddlers, 14 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten, 48 school-age spaces)

Maple Ridge

• Under the Tree Family Education and Support child care centre; 110 spaces (24 spaces for infant-toddlers, 38 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten, 48 school-age spaces)

Merritt

• Family Place; 76 spaces spaces (24 spaces for infant-toddlers, 36 school-age spaces, 16 multi-age spaces)

North Vancouver

• Lynn Creek child care; 37 spaces (12 spaces for infant-toddlers, 25 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten)

Skatin

• Síitot child care; 26 spaces (10 spaces for infant-toddlers, 16 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten)

Sooke

• Choo Choo, Let’s Go! child care centre; 37 spaces (12 spaces for infant-toddlers, 25 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten)

Sorrento

• The Muddy Children’s Society; 56 spaces (24 school-age spaces, 32 multi-age spaces)

Surrey

• Smilestones Learning Society; 60 spaces (24 spaces for infant-toddlers, 36 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten)
• Surrey Sport and Leisure; 20 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten

Vancouver

• Westside Montessori academy; 32 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten

Victoria

• Burnside child care centre; 59 spaces (12 spaces for infant-toddlers, 25 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten, 22 preschool spaces)
• Next Level child care society; 175 spaces (60 spaces for infant-toddlers, 75 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten, 40 school-age care spaces)

Not included in the province’s list was a new facility that opened on the rooftop of Henry Hudson Elementary School in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood on Thursday.

The $12.7-million project was jointly funded by the City of Vancouver and the province, with space provided by the Vancouver School Board.

The Maple Childcare facility includes 65 spaces for children up to age five, and is one of six new child-care centres opening across the city between 2024 and 2026 that will add a total of roughly 400 new non-profit child-care spaces to Vancouver’s total.