439 new licensed child care spaces for Greater Victoria

More than 400 new childcare spaces have been announced for Greater Victoria.

The Greater Victoria School District is partnering with non-profit organizations to provide new child care spaces at elementary schools across the city, as part of $4.6 million investment through the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund.

“This is the first announcement under our Childcare BC New Spaces program, and it shows how quickly we can create new quality child care spaces across the province by partnering with school districts and other public-sector organizations,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development.

“What’s more, by offering child care in a school setting, families get the added benefit that their children can ease into the school environment and will feel more comfortable when they transition into kindergarten.”

439 new licensed child care spaces in the CRD have just been announced by Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development, Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, and Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. #childcare #yyj @VictoriaNews pic.twitter.com/lhtfs6ZhlX

— Keri Coles (@KeriColesPhotog) November 27, 2018

Mayor Lisa Helps said the City of Victoria has been collaborating with SD61 and other community partners over the past 18 months through the Childcare Solutions Working Group.

“We put forward Vic West as a pilot project and are thrilled to see it funded,” said Helps.

Several non-profit organizations will offer wraparound services at the new facilities, including counselling, healthy food and clothing to support vulnerable families, as well as programming for francophone families and those who are new to Canada.

Under the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, school boards applying for funding to partner with non-profit organizations to offer new licensed child care spaces are eligible for up to $1 million per facility under the public-sector partnership funding stream.

More new spaces will be announced for communities throughout B.C. as more projects are approved.