EXCERPTS
An additional 336 new childcare spaces will be coming to Vancouver Island with the majority of those being located in Greater Victoria.
The new spaces were announced on Tuesday and are part of an ongoing project that is being funded by the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The new licensed child care spaces will be located in Greater Victoria, Sooke, North Saanich, and Tahsis.
The Greater Victoria area will see 210 new spaces added, 62 will be in Sooke, 56 spaces will open in North Saanich and 8 spaces will be added in Tahsis.
Since July 2018, more than 20,000 new licensed child care spaces have been funded in British Columbia, including 1,630 spaces in Greater Victoria, 84 spaces in Sooke, and 213 spaces in North Saanich and the surrounding areas.
More than 36,000 children have received child care for $10/day or less since the beginning of the Childcare BC plan.
Here’s a breakdown of where the new spaces will be located:
Crosstown Daycare Program (Victoria)
Run by the Beacon Community Association, the Crosstown Daycare Program will offer a total of 36 new licensed child care spaces – 12 infant and toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. Opening in January 2023, Crosstown will offer a variety of programs to support the well-being of families, including health and counselling, family development, housing and homelessness prevention, along with employment and volunteer opportunities.
Sundance Elementary Childcare (Victoria)
Greater Victoria School District 61 is partnering with Oaklands Community Association to create 44 new spaces at Sundance Elementary – 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 16 preschool spaces and 20 school-age spaces. The new centre is expected to open in January 2022.
Kids Klub Centre Lake Hill Site (Victoria)
Greater Victoria School District 61 is continuing its partnership with the Vancouver Island Kids Klub Centre Society to create 40 new child care spaces at Lake Hill Elementary – 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. The Kids Klub Brown Bag program will provide free daily lunches to support vulnerable children in the Victoria, Saanich and Sooke School Districts. The spaces are expected to open in July 2022.
Kids Klub Centre McKenzie School (Victoria)
In partnership with the Vancouver Island Kids Klub Centre Society, Greater Victoria School District 61 is creating 40 new spaces at McKenzie Elementary – 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. The spaces are expected to open in July 2022.
Hillcrest Elementary Out of School Care and Ready Set Grow (Victoria)
Greater Victoria School District 61 is working with the Hillcrest Elementary Out of School Care Society to create 50 new child care spaces at the school – 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 10 preschool spaces and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. Staff will also integrate the seven teachings policy through stories, arts and crafts, and play. The spaces are expected to open in January 2022.
Homey Land Daycare (Sooke)
Opening in May 2021, the Homey Land Daycare will provide a total of 25 new licensed child care spaces – eight infant/toddler spaces and 17 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. The centre will provide a rich environment for children to grow, socialize and play. Homey Land Daycare will support families that are new to Canada by providing services in multiple languages, including Arabic, Russian and French.
Choo Choo, Let’s Go! Childcare Centre/Centre de Garde Inc. (Sooke)
The Choo Choo, Let’s Go! Childcare Centre is expanding to create two additional classrooms in May 2022. This expansion will add a total of 37 new child care spaces – 12 infant/toddler spaces and 25 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. Choo Choo, Let’s Go! is an inclusive, multi-language child care centre, which incorporates activities such as yoga, music, and mini zumba into the curriculum. Operators will offer free professional development workshops for their staff and participate in local community projects.
Tseycum Childcare Centre (North Saanich)
The Tseycum Childcare Centre will address the critical need for childcare in the community by adding a total of 56 new licensed spaces – eight infant/toddler spaces, 12 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 36 school-age spaces. Expected to open in December 2021, the centre will implement the Tseycum Wellness Plan and follow the BC First Nations and Aboriginal Maternal, Child and Family Strategic Approach.
Tahsis Child Care Centre (Tahsis)
The Tahsis Child Care Centre moved from an old community centre to a classroom within Captain Meares Elementary Secondary school and offers a total of eight licensed child care spaces. The Tahsis Child Care Centre, which opened its doors to families in December 2020, provides nutritious meals for children at no extra cost to parents.