Child Care Planning
In 2018, the Province of British Columbia announced child care investments totalling $1 billion over three years. As part of this investment, $237 million was committed to create 22,000 new licensed child care spaces. To assist communities in better assessing their child care needs, the Province also provided funding to conduct child care needs assessments and develop child care space creation plans. Campbell River was successful in obtaining $25,000 through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), in partnership with the Campbell River Family Network, to develop a child care needs assessment and space creation plan.
In 2019, the Campbell River Child Care Report 2020 was developed. The process included conducting a detailed child care inventory and consultation with parents and child care providers to better understand community child care needs.
The report also highlights a need to create the following child care spaces by 2022:
· 40 infant and toddler spaces
· 50 group care spaces for children aged 30 months to five years old
· Up to 300 spaces for before and after-school care
The report also outlines ways government can support child care creation. The report is expected to be used by the School District, non-profit and for profit child care providers to inform business planning efforts and support funding applications to create more spaces in Campbell River.
“Quality, affordable accessible child care is key for early childhood development and helps reduce poverty and improve overall community quality of life,” said Mayor Andy Adams “We want to continue to attract young families to our area, and recognize that accessible child care is a big factor when people decide where to live. Working with our community partners to access funding for this project is the next step in this important process.”
Project partners included Campbell River Family Network, PacificCare Child Care Resource and Referral, Campbell River Family Services Society, School District 72 and the City of Campbell River.