THE City of Surrey announced on Thursday that families will soon see more childcare spaces as it makes progress on its commitment to enhancing child are services within the community. This includes the opening of two new childcare centres, providing a total of 70 spaces.
In addition to these two new centres, the City has secured more than $18.2 million for the creation of 325 additional spaces, of which $6.75 million will support the creation of 102 spaces in the Bridgeview Community Centre and the O’Siem Village at Hawthorne Park.
“These newly opened childcare spaces underscore Council’s dedication to providing access to high-quality childcare options for Surrey’s families,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “As the fastest-growing community in Metro Vancouver, Surrey faces a significant need for more childcare spaces to support parents in our city. I am grateful for the funding from the province to help realize this initiative that will have such a positive impact for families in Surrey.”
Access to more high-quality spaces is thanks to the support of the Province’s ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund—a fund jointly supported by provincial investments and funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada-BC Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement – 2021 to 2026. To date, the City has with partners secured $18.2 million in joint provincial and federal funding.
“Every new space helps families save thousands of dollars every year and contributes to better education for children,” said Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “The new spaces announced by the City of Surrey, supported by the federal investment, will help make life more affordable for families in Surrey, and bring us one step closer to the 30,000 new licensed childcare spaces we are working to create here in British Columbia.”
“People in Whalley need spaces for their little ones to learn, play, and grow,” said Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley. “These new spaces will provide culturally-informed, safe places for children in the community to thrive.”
“Families with young children will soon benefit from these new childcare spaces in our fast-growing neighbourhood,” said Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford. “I’m looking forward to seeing the difference it will make for families to have more spaces close to home.”
New childcare spaces opened September 2023:
- Alexandra Neighbourhood House Children’s Centre at Kensington Prairie Community Centre offers 50 new childcare spaces for ages 0 to 5, operated by Alexandra Neighbourhood House.
- Alex House Children’s Centre at Elgin Centre offers 20 childcare spaces for ages 3 to 5, operated by Alexandra Neighbourhood House.
Future expansion:
- Bridgeview Community Centre (Fall 2024) will provide 48 new childcare spaces, operated by Métis Family Services with $2,371,800 from the Province’s New Spaces Fund and $900,000 from Union of BC Municipalities’ Child Care Space Creation Funding.
- O’Siem Village at Hawthorne Park (Spring 2025) will provide 54 new childcare spaces, operated by Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association with $3,486,660 from the Province’s New Spaces Fund.
Surrey childcare stats:
- Surrey has 17.9 licensed childcare spaces per 100 children ages 0-12.
- Surrey has 14,337 licensed childcare spaces for approximately 80,000 children ages 0-12.
- Surrey increased by the number of licensed childcare spaces by 27% since 2019.
To learn more, visit: www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/social-development/child-care/child-care-facilities.