The province has announced an investment in more licensed childcare spaces in northern B.C.
Provincial funding with a federal contribution is supporting six childcare providers to create 279 new licensed childcare spaces in northern B.C. including Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Kitimat, Moberly Lake, Prince George and Quesnel.
In Prince George, these spots are through the Board of Education of School District 57 and BBBS Early Learning and Playcare which will create 50 2.5 years-to-kindergarten-age spaces located adjacent to school grounds.
"Our government is creating new child care spaces in communities throughout B.C. to ensure child care is available when and where families need it," said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care.
"With some of the new child care spaces on school grounds, we're able to better integrate child care into the broader learning environment so children can more easily transition from their early care programs into their school community."
Since 2018, the province has invested $2.7 billion in ChildCareBC, including funding more than 26,000 new licensed child care spaces through the New Spaces Fund and other space-creation programs.
However, new spaces require new early childhood educators (ECEs). A recruitment and retention strategy was included as part of B.C.'s 10-year ChildCareBC plan, launched 2018. Progress since then includes initiatives such as bursaries to support ECEs, creating new ECE student spaces at post-secondary schools and enhancing ECE compensation by $4 per hour.
"For years, parents in B.C. were left with a patchwork system where child care was treated as a luxury. As we enter the fifth year of our 10-year ChildCareBC plan, we are making significant progress to reverse this," said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care.
"We've been working to turn the corner by building new spaces, lowering fees and training the skilled professionals needed to offer quality child care as a core service available to every family that wants it at a price they can afford."
