Victorians will soon have access to 439 new childcare spaces thanks to funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and partnerships between the Greater Victoria School District and various non-profit organizations.
These licensed spaces will be co-located at six elementary schools, and are made possible by a $4.6 million investment through the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund.
All of the new facilities will be accessible and offer a range of supports for children with special needs. Many of the spaces will also include counselling, healthy food, and clothing for the children, and some will feature francophone programs.
This is the first instalment of child care spaces to be introduced under the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund – a provincial reserve that provides school boards with up to $1 million if they apply to partner with non-profit organizations in a bid to offer new licensed child care spaces.
“Our board of education is proud to be a leader in partnering with the Province to create new child care spaces,” said Jordan Watters, chair, Greater Victoria School Board.
“We recognize the importance of quality early learning and child care for children and families, and we want to support our schools as valuable community hubs. We also want to recognize our local municipalities, service providers and facilities staff with whom we will be working to deliver this much-needed infrastructure.”
Through the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, the province is investing $1 billion over the next three years in an effort to create a system of universal, affordable child care in BC.
Breaking it down
Here are the details of the licensed child care projects and their locations in Victoria:
- Doncaster Elementary – 66 spaces total
8 spaces for infants and toddlers
8 space for children aged 30 months to school-age
50 spaces for school-age children
$818,750 funding - Frank Hobbs Elementary – 85 spaces total in partnership with Goosey Gander Kindergarten Association
12 spaces for children aged 30 months to school-age
73 spaces for school-age children
$800,000 - Macaulay Elementary – 37 spaces total
12 preschool spaces
25 school-age spaces
$477,600 in funding - Tillicum Elementary – 91 spaces total
16 preschool spaces
75 spaces for school-age children
$818,750 in funding - Victoria West Elementary – 57 spaces total in partnership with the Victoria West Community Association
32 spaces for children aged 30 months to school-age
25 school-age spaces
$872,800 in funding - Willows Elementary – 103 spaces total
8 spaces for infants and toddlers
20 spaces for 3-year-old to school-age children
75 school-age spaces
$818,750 in funding
