Photo courtesy of Okanagan College Foundation / Sunflower Childcare Centre

By Liam Verster

Sunflower Childcare Centre

Over $1M raised to support childcare in Vernon

Aug 18, 2025 | 1:21 PM

A fundraising campaign to support Vernon’s newest childcare facility was a success.

The Okanagan College Foundation (OCF) said over $1.15-million was raised in support of the new Sunflower Childcare Centre.

Located at the OC Vernon campus, the Sunflower Centre offers 32 childcare spaces for children aged three to five years old, and 12 spaces for infants and toddlers.

The Sunflower Childcare Centre opened in October of 2024, and the OCF said it had allowed parents to have a childcare option while pursuing their studies, and also saw six future Early Childhood Educators use the facility for their practicum work.

The Foundation said another 12 students will benefit from the on-campus childcare facility in September.

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The money in support of the Sunflower Childcare Centre was collected through the donations of 167 contributors. Those included Lloyd Davies and Janet Armstrong, who donated over $500,000; donors who contributed between $25,000 and $99,999, including the Foord Family Foundation, Galbraith Family, and Jean and Ken Finch, and the Stand Up For Charity Paddle; and many other donors who contributed $1,000 or more to support the facility.

“We know the benefits of quality early childhood education for young children,” Sahsa Carner, OCF’s manager of development, said.

“We couldn’t have done this without the inspiring support from the community.”