Coldstream parents to benefit from new child care spaces

New licensed child care spaces in Coldstream are on target to open later this year.

The B.C. government’s New Spaces Fund is supporting the District of Coldstream in building Maven Lane, across from Lavington Elementary School. The centre, which will be operated by the North Okanagan Child Care Society, is expected to open in December 2020 and will offer 32 spaces, including 12 infant/toddler spaces, eight spaces for children age three to five years, and 12 spaces for children up to the age of 12 years.

“We have heard from the community that there is a desperate need for additional child care spaces in Coldstream,” Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick said. “The recent child care needs assessment report showed a significant lack of available child care spaces in our area. We would like to thank the province of British Columbia and the Ministry of Children and Family Development for providing these funds which will help to address the child care shortage in our community.”

Maven Lane will be an inclusive centre with wheelchair-accessible washrooms and outdoor play spaces, and staff will have training in early childhood development and special needs to ensure all children can participate in activities. Parent participation will include field trips to local fire halls, police stations, museums, libraries, pet stores and beaches to build a sense of community.

“The new Maven Lane child care centre’s location near the local elementary school means parents who also have older children will have a one-stop drop-off and pickup location, making morning routines much easier,” Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy said. “The result of a great partnership with the district, this new, accessible facility will also ensure that children of all abilities will be able to safely access the building and participate in the centre’s activities.”

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The investment means 69 new licensed child care spaces have been funded in Coldstream since July 2018.

July 2020 marks the second anniversary of the launch of the New Spaces Fund, which has approved an average of 700 new spaces for funding each month. So far, nearly 16,800 new spaces have been funded throughout the province, helping parents return to work, go back to school or pursue other opportunities.