SIXTEEN new licensed child care spaces are available to families in Cloverdale at the new Don Christian Child Care Facility.

In 2019, the City of Surrey applied for funding offered by the Province of British Columbia and administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), with a proposal to build a modular facility on the property of Don Christian Recreation Centre. The City was awarded $1,000,000 in capital grant funding to support the project.

“Just as we need to invest in bridge and road infrastructure, Surrey families need access to quality child care,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “With young families moving to Cloverdale every day, this new facility will help meet the growing demand for licensed child care in the community and will create a hub of services to young children. On behalf of Council, I thank the Province for their partnership in helping Surrey families access quality care for their children.”

Alexandra Neighbourhood House will operate the new 1,453 square foot facility, which offers two program rooms, an outdoor play area with rubberized surfacing, accessible design, and a new playground adjacent to the facility that can be accessed by both the program and the public. Services will be available to families with children aged six months to 13 years.

“This partnership with the City of Surrey will help meet the growing needs of families for child care, and it will help parents return to work or go back to school, to secure a better future for their families,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care.“ Since 2018, we have funded 35 child care projects to create 1,382 child care spaces in Surrey as part of our 10-year Child care BC plan to ensure all B.C. families have access to quality, affordable child care.”

“This new child care facility will make difference for families in the Cloverdale area by providing them with access to affordable, quality and inclusive child care closer to home,” said Mike Starchuk, MLA, Surrey-Cloverdale. “I’m proud to see our government working to make life better for families in Surrey.”

This project is part of over 20 major capital projects under the Surrey Invests program, a series of capital and development projects that will improve the lives of hard-working, middle-class families across Surrey.

For more information on Surrey Invests visit www.surrey.ca/capital projects.