The B.C. government is highlighting recent and upcoming investments aimed at expanding child care spaces on school grounds, including several Vancouver Island projects.
A provincial statement says school districts can now apply for support to speed up the creation of before- and after-school child care spaces across B.C.
It adds that more than 900 new child care spaces have opened or are set to open this spring in 17 communities.
The following Vancouver Island and Victoria-area projects were highlighted:
• Courtenay — Vanier Child Care Centre, 108 spaces (36 infant-toddler spaces, 48 spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age, 24 school-age spaces on school grounds)
• Duncan — School District 79 Minor, Drinkwater Elementary Out-of-School Care, 12 school-age spaces on school grounds
• Fanny Bay — Little Oysters Child Care, 52 spaces (36 spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age, 16 multi-age group spaces)
• Victoria — Tolmie Child Care, 16 spaces (eight spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age, eight multi-age group spaces)
The province said the new spaces are intended to improve access for families facing barriers to affordable, high-quality child care close to home.
