More child-care spaces will be available for parents in Nanaimo, the B.C. government has announced.
In a press release Wednesday, April 20, the province said the Nanaimo area will receive 168 new licensed child-care spaces for both non-profit organization and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools sites.
Forty spaces are designated for BGC Central Vancouver Island’s Great Futures Early Learning, 12 of which are for infants and toddlers, 14 for children from two and a half years old to kindergarten age and 14 for school-aged children.
Cilaire and Pleasant Valley Elementary’s early learning and child care centres will be allocated 52 spaces each, with 12 for infants and toddlers, 16 for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten-age children, and 24 for school-aged kids. École Quarterway’s child care centre will receive 24 spaces for school-aged children.
Katrina Chen, B.C. Minister of State for Child Care, said the government is continuing work to enhance the child-care system.
“We’ve been working to turn the corner by building new spaces, lowering fees and training the skilled professionals needed to offer quality child care as a core service available to every family that wants it at a price they can afford,” Chen said in the press release.
Jennifer Whiteside, B.C. Minister of Education and Child Care, said the fact that some spaces are situated at schools will be convenient for parents and children.
“With some of the new child care spaces on school grounds, we’re able to better integrate child care into the broader learning environment so children can more easily transition from their early care programs into their school community,” said Whiteside in the press release.
There were more than 300 new licensed child care spaces announced by the government this week.
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