The newest addition to childcare spaces in the Central Okanagan was officially unveiled Thursday morning (Nov. 16) at Ann McClymont Elementary School.

A new childcare facility operated by BGC Okanagan in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Childcare and Okanagan Public Schools was opened by the provincial Minister of State for Childcare Grace Lore.

Lore said 250 spaces will become available this school year initially at three childcare centres, the others being at Okanagan Mission Secondary and Black Mountain Elementary school sites.

Four additional school sites also are adding childcare facilities during this school year, which will boost the childcare space availability to more than 600 across the school district.

Lore said she 鈥渨as blown away鈥� by the commitment of various partner groups to respond to the growing childcare needs of the Central Okanagan.

She said overall, the province is committed to adding more than 3,000 new childcare spaces, with 1,700 of those within the Central Okanagan.

鈥淔amilies are moving (to 琉璃神社) so childcare is an important need to provide peace of mind to growing families,鈥� she said.

Lore noted she has two elementary school-aged children, saying she knows first-hand the value of early childhood education as important for working parents.

鈥淎nd the location of childcare centres on school sites just makes sense, providing a smooth transition from early childhood into the school system, with pre-and after-school care options for parents,鈥� she said.

The school district has partnered with BGC Okanagan, YMCA and Clubhouse for the seven new childcare space facility additions on Central Okanagan school sites.

Along with Anne McClymont, OKM and Black Mountain, the other sites are George Elliot Secondary in Lake Country, North Glenmore Elementary, Ellison Elementary and 脡cole Hudson Elementary.

All the facilities are expected to be up and running by next spring, representing an investment by the provincial government of $28.9 million. Each project was the recipient of a $3 million grant to cover construction costs.

Jeremy Welder, chief executive officer of BGC, said his organization will operate three of the childcare centres, at Anne McClymont, North Glenmore and Hudson Road schools.

Welder said a huge shift in provincial funding commitment to expand childcare resources on school sites has made these projects financially feasible.

鈥淲e have been operating childcare programs for the last 20 years so for us this marks an evolution forward for us,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t shows what can happen in our community when partners come together to share resources and expertise to meet a common goal.鈥�

Central Okanagan Board of Education chair Lee-Ann Tiede cited the 鈥榠t takes a village鈥� concept to illustrate the commitment required to meet the early childhood care demand in the school district.

鈥淚t is part of our goal as a board of education to provide the resources for stronger, happier and healthier children,鈥� Tiede said.

Westbank First Nation Elder Grouse Barnes spoke of the positive energy that has brought people together to improve the lives of our children.

鈥淎 lot of people here have big hearts and our children in mind. They will be our future,鈥� Barnes said.

Since 2018, the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund has funded more than 33,000 licensed childcare spaces across the province, with more than 1,700 of them in Central Okanagan.

READ MORE: Central Okanagan childcare spaces expanding

READ MORE: Anxiety among private childcare operators over funding

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