New child care spaces in Okanagan

* Lumby (54 spaces)

* Salmon Arm (20 spaces)

* Vernon (52 spaces)

The following contains additional information on the five projects that will create 151 new licensed child care spaces in Armstrong, Lumby, Salmon Arm and Vernon.

Kindale Child Care Centre (Armstrong)

The Kindale Developmental Association is renovating an existing building to create 25 new licensed child care spaces, including for children that need supports from three years old to kindergarten. The centre will have a low child-to-early-childhood-educator ratio and will employ staff with special training to assist children with support needs. This will allow all children to fully participate in child care programming. The facility is expected to open in fall 2021.

Early Years Centre (Lumby)

The Bridge Educational Society is renovating an existing facility on its Bridge Land for Learning campus, which also houses the Okanagan Waldorf School, to create 54 new licensed child care spaces, including 19 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 20 preschool spaces and 15 school-age spaces. Its rural campus has a community garden that supports farm-to-table experiences, as well as gardening and nutrition educational opportunities for parents. The centre is committed to continuing education and team-building experiences for all educators, including financial assistance to help staff upgrade their certification through the Work BC Foundation Training Stream. At the completion of these additional spaces, the centre will house a total of 121 child care spaces, making it one of the major employers in Lumby. The new child care spaces are expected to be available for families in January 2022.

Maple Tree Montessori (Salmon Arm)

Maple Tree Montessori will expand to offer 20 new licensed child care spaces, including 12 infant and toddler spaces and eight multi-age spaces. These additions will augment the existing 20 child care spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 20 preschool and kindergarten spaces, with a maximum capacity of 20 children at any time. Maple Tree Montessori’s nature study program incorporates teachings of the Secwepemc Peoples and their connection to local land. In addition, Secwepemc Elders are welcome to share stories, songs and their knowledge of Mother Earth through lessons such as wildcrafting and animal tracking. Children have the opportunity to learn about the cultures, animals and landforms of the seven continents. The new child care spaces are expected to be available in January 2022.

Harwood Elementary School (Vernon)

School District No. 22 (Vernon) is building two modular facilities to house 52 new licensed child care spaces at Harwood Elementary school. The site will include 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 16 preschool spaces and 20 school-age spaces. The facilities will help connect families with local supports, including family navigation, parenting programs, sponsorships, free programming and family counselling services. The new child care spaces are expected to be available to families in early 2022.

The province is supporting 12 projects to create 794.5 new licensed child care spaces in Hedley, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Penticton and West Kelowna including:

* Kelowna (567)

* Penticton (95.5)

* West Kelowna (92)

Thie following contains additional information on the 12 projects that will create 794.5 new licensed child care spaces in Hedley, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Penticton and West Kelowna. Of these, more than 100 spaces are expected to open by the fall.

Chuchuwayha Daycare (Hedley)

With fully accessible entrances, washrooms and ramps, this facility will offer early-intervention services that include speech therapy, physiotherapy, behaviour consultation and occupational therapy. The centre will also have programming that reflects the Syilx and Okanagan culture and languages. The facility will provide a total of 16 new licensed child care spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and is expected to open in the fall.

Garderie de l’École L’Anse-au-Sable (Kelowna)

The Conseil scolaire francophone School District No. 93 is partnering with Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique to renovate two classrooms at École de l’Anse-au-Sable and construct a new modular centre to create 82 new licensed child care spaces. The centre will offer eight spaces for infants and toddlers, 50 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 24 school-age spaces. The district will provide meals and snacks to children whose families are living with financial difficulties. The spaces are expected to open by early 2022.

CEFA Early Learning Spall Road (Kelowna)

This project will support the expansion of CEFA Early Learning Spall Road, which is located near Parkinson Recreation Centre. The facility will add 56 new licensed child care spaces, including 24 spaces for infants and toddlers and 32 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. The new spaces are expected to be available to families this summer.

The Clubhouse at Ellison (Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular centre at Ellison Elementary school to create 81 new licensed child care spaces, including 12 spaces for infants and toddlers and 24 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 30 spaces for school-aged children and 15 preschool spaces. The Clubhouse Child Care Centre will provide breakfast, lunch and three snacks to children, and the school-age children will help with food preparation. The clubhouse is expected to open in fall 2022.

Okanagan Boys and Girls Club: Anne McClymont (Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular facility and playground at Anne McClymont Elementary school. The facility will provide a total of 92 new licensed child care spaces, including eight spaces for infants and toddlers, 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 48 spaces for school-aged children and 20 preschool spaces. The Okanagan Boys and Girls Club will operate the centre, which is expected to open in September 2022.

Okanagan Boys and Girls Club: North Glenmore (Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular facility at North Glenmore Elementary school. The facility will provide a total of 92 new licensed child care spaces, including eight spaces for infants and toddlers, 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 48 spaces for school-aged children and 20 preschool spaces. It is expected to open in September 2022. The facility will work with the Okanagan Métis Society, Starbright Development Centre and the Okanagan Autism Society to care for children with support needs. The club will support families by providing food and Christmas hampers through their Adopt-a-Family program and will operate a family-resource program to provide on-site and community services.

Okanagan Mission Secondary School (Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular facility and playground at Okanagan Mission High School. The facility will be run by the YMCA of Okanagan and create 82 new licensed child care spaces, including 12 spaces for infants and toddlers, eight spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 42 spaces for school-aged children and 20 preschool spaces. Staff will participate in training on autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The centre is expected to open in December 2022.

Black Mountain Elementary School Child Care (Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular facility and playground at Black Mountain Elementary school. The facility will provide a total of 82 new licensed child care spaces, including 12 spaces for infants and toddlers, eight spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 42 spaces for school-aged children and 20 preschool spaces. Staff will receive training through the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society. In addition, staff can speak more than 10 languages and will act as translators for families. The centre is expected to open in December 2022.

Osoyoos Elementary School Seamless Day (Osoyoos)

School District No. 53 (Okanagan Similkameen) will renovate two kindergarten classrooms to create 24 before- and after-school spaces when class is not in session. The new spaces will create two new early childhood educator positions and will be available to families in the fall.

Little Paws Children’s Centre (Penticton)

The Penticton Indian Band is building a standalone child care centre that will have accessible washrooms and push-button entrances. The facility will create 87 new licensed child care spaces, including 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, 17 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 36 spaces for school-aged children and 10 preschool spaces. Programming will incorporate lessons from Elders and cultural knowledge keepers and will include syilx Okanagan curriculum and n’syilxcn language immersion, with the goal of language revitalization. The facility is expected to open in April 2023.

Columbia Elementary School (Penticton)

School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) will add a total of 8.5 new licensed preschool spaces this summer through minor renovations to its existing StrongStart BC child care facility.

Okanagan Boys and Girls Club – Hudson Road Elementary School (West Kelowna)

School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) is building a modular centre on the grounds of Hudson Road Elementary school that will create 92 new licensed child care spaces, including eight spaces for infants and toddlers, 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 48 school-aged spaces and 20 preschool spaces. The centre is expected to open in November 2022

by Pete McIntyre

New child care spaces in Okanagan

What Matters