ACCESS to affordable, quality, and inclusive child care is expanding for families in Richmond as 220 new licensed child care spaces open.
“More families in Richmond will have access to affordable, quality and inclusive child care conveniently located on school grounds, which benefits children, families and the entire community,” said Mitzi Dean, B.C. Minister of State for Child Care, on Friday. “Parents have told us they want more child care on school grounds and we are delivering.”
These new child care spaces in Richmond were made possible through more than $8.2 million from ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, which is supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
“These new spots will make a significant difference for families in Richmond, providing them with the affordable and flexible support they need while giving children the best possible start in life,” said Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “We will keep working hard to create more spots to get kids off wait lists and into high-quality, affordable child care close to home.”
The Province partnered with the Richmond school district to open four new child care centres on school grounds, which will create 220 new spaces, including eight spaces for infant-toddlers, 100 spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age, 112 spaces for school-age care. Government is working to create child care where families need it most, including on school grounds or at other locations, that fit in with parents’ busy lives.
“In Richmond, we understand the importance of nurturing our youngest learners from the very beginning,” said Heather Larson, Chair, SD38. “The creation of these new child care spaces is a testament to our commitment to supporting families. Together, we are building a brighter future for all in our community.”
Since 2018, ChildCareBC accelerated space creation programs have helped fund the creation of more than 39,000 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. Of these, more than 11,900 are thanks in part to the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
Learn More:
For information about ChildCareBC, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/childcare
For more information about the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/
