As the head of the YMCA of Northern B.C., Amanda Alexander is enjoying a convergence of events when it comes to delivering affordable daycare to Prince George.
On Monday, the federal government presented a budget in which $10-a-day daycare was made a top priority.
On Tuesday, the provincial government committed to doubling the number of such spaces in B.C. over the next three years.
And on Wednesday the City said work has begun on building a new daycare centre in the downtown - one Alexander's organization will be operating once it's opened near the end of this year.
It has amounted to a series of "hallmark" days for Alexander.
"For those of us that are in childcare and really committed to the importance of early learning and quality of care and great outcomes for children and great outcomes for families and particularly in terms of women's ability to re-enter the workforce, it's stellar," said Alexander, who is the YMCA of NBC's CEO.
"And quite honestly, I think about my time as a working parent and I was paying child care fees, you knew you might be able to save once child care was done, so $10 a day will be amazing for parents in terms of their quality and affordability of life."
Under a provincial government pilot program, the Y's Highland Development Centre has been home to $10-a-day daycare since 2018. Alexander said the program has been "life changing" for the parents and caregivers who managed to get a spot.
She said studies of the experience in Quebec, where a version has been in place for several years now, show the subsidy is more than paid back in the form of women who can participate in the workforce and pay taxes.
Critics have said the money committed would be better spent on tax credits and direct transfers to families with children. Alexander disagrees, saying it's about providing equitable access to quality care.
"If I'm someone that's living in poverty that might not necessarily be where I'm going to invest my dollars, given my own personal choices, my own personal life and circumstances but if my child gets that building block, it is a game changer for them in terms of their outcomes," Alexander said.
She said the Y provides a "playing to learn" curriculum based on educational best practices.
To be located next to the Park Hill condominium complex, the new centre is slated to open by the end of this year and will cater to parents who work in the downtown core.
"It's been a very significant need that we've noticed for many years so we were very excited to work with the City to move the centre forward," Alexander said.
The City secured $4 million for the project - $3 million from the provincial government and $1 million from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
The facility is being built at a fixed price by A&T Project Development Inc. in collaboration with PRD Construction of Prince George. The City has also contracted Colliers Project Leaders to provide project management services.
It will have enough space for 85 youngsters - 12 infant/toddler spaces, 25 group childcare spaces for children ages 30 months to school age, and 48 school-age spaces.
It's doubtful $10-a-day will be the rate when the centre is opened but Alexander is optimistic that in time, it will be in place.
"There's still a lot of work that needs to happen and the province was very specific around the things that they were looking for - like in terms of diversity, and serving teen parents and having Indigenous children attend the centre for a real cross section," Alexander said. "We'll have to be really thoughtful around what the next phase is."
