Some relief is on the way for Tri-City parents and guardians.
Today (April 20), 259 new child care spaces are being added to five facilities across the region in an effort to expand access for families and the comfort in knowing their young kids are safe.
A breakdown of the announcement is as follows:
Port Coquitlam
- BC Christian Academy Society
- BCCA Kids Club
- 140 spaces
- 24 infant-toddler, 68 2.5-to-kindergarten age and 48 school-aged children
- Dogwood Holdings (Kingsway) Society
- 33 spaces
- Eight infant-toddler and 25 school-aged children
- Kallu Family Childcare Society
- 49 spaces
- 24 infant-toddler and 25 2.5-to-kindergarten age
Port Moody
- City of Port Moody
- Westhill Child Care Centre
- 37 spaces
- 12 infant-toddler and 25 2.5-to-kindergarten age
It's the province's latest investment from its $2.7-billion ChildCareBC funding and creation programs, which began in 2018 in hopes of providing 26,000 new licensed spaces.
Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov believes the investment will be welcomed by all.
"We have all seen the effects of under-funded child care — whether it's unbearably long wait times, crowded facilities or simply a lack of available spots," he explained in a news release.
"The City of Port Moody is looking forward to putting this funding to good use and supporting a new chapter in the lives of 37 local families."
As well, 49 new spaces have been earmarked for Blessed Generations Academy in Maple Ridge.
According to the province, this brings the expansion total to a combined 1,159 new child care spots in that community — plus Port Coquitlam and Port Moody — since July 2018.
"Increasing access to safe, reliable and quality child care opens up opportunities for families to pursue their goals," added Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac.
"We are committed to creating more affordable spaces for child care as part of our plan to build a stronger BC for everyone."
Through ChildCareBC investments, the province states parents in the Tri-Cities have saved millions of dollars while in search of a good child care space: $16 million in Port Coquitlam and $11 million in Port Moody.
B.C.'s 2022 budget is set to provide $30 million more for the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund in an effort to further expand the number of licensed child care spaces available for school-aged kids.
An earlier version of this story stated 20 new child care spaces at Place Maillardville Community Centre. The City of Coquitlam confirmed to the Tri-City News it did not proceed with child care at the facility and the province forgot to remove them from the original release.
