NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Children and Family Development 2021CFD0044-000980 May 21, 2021 Lower Mainland families to benefit from new child care spaces
MAPLE RIDGE ʹMore parents in the Lower Mainland will be able to return to work, go back to school or pursue other opportunities as the Province invests in 340 new licensed child care spaces, about 140 of which are expected to be open by the end of this year.
͞Improving child care has been a key commitment of our government since day one,͟said Rick Glumac, MLA for Port Moody Coquitlam. ͞As we recover from the pandemic, we are more focused than ever to get people access to this vital service.͟
The Province is supporting five projects to create 340 new licensed child care spaces in Maple Ridge, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows and Coquitlam:
Maple Ridge (110) Port Moody (60) Pitt Meadows (115) Coquitlam (55)
͞Pitt Meadows is proud to be home to many hardworking families, and our city council is committed to making sure that parents and children in our community get the support and care they need,͟said Bill Dingwall, mayor, City of Pitt Meadows. ͞With limited child care spaces affecting families all over the region, we are grateful for the provincial support in helping to fund these essential and much-needed new spaces.͟
In addition, nine other projects have received funding in the Tri-Cities since the launch of Childcare BC in July 2018. This includes Westwood Montessori (Partington) in Coquitlam, which opened 96 new licensed child care spaces in September 2020.
͞We͛re so grateful for this funding that͛s helping bring much-needed child care to Coquitlam families,͟said Peter Chern of Westwood Montessori. ͞We͛re excited to offer caring, quality child care to this community for years to come.͟
The Province has funded almost 26,000 new licensed spaces since the launch of Childcare BC ʹ more than 6,000 of which are now open.
͞As we enter the fourth year of our 10-year Childcare BC plan, thousands of families are already feeling the life-changing impact of having affordable, quality and inclusive child care,͟ said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. ͞As we continue to build toward a universal and inclusive child care system, these new spaces will make it easier for parents, especially mothers, to pursue their own goals, while being part of B.C.͛s economic recovery.͟
An additional 4,370 spaces, funded through the 2017 Budget Update and the Early Learning and Child Care agreement with the Government of Canada, takes the total number of new child care spaces funded since July 2017 to more than 29,300.
Quick Facts:
Since July 2018, almost 26,000 new licensed child care spaces have been funded in British Columbia, including 311 in Maple Ridge, 95 in Port Moody, 208 in Pitt Meadows and 319 in Coquitlam. The Childcare BC plan has helped parents save up to $1,600 a month, per child, for a total of over $770 million through the Affordable Child Care Benefit and Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. As a result of these investments, parents in Coquitlam, Maple Ridge-Mission, Pitt Meadows and Port Moody have saved almost $23 million, more than $25 million, more than $13 million and $8.5 million, respectively. Early childhood educators have received more than: ƕ $2 million in wage enhancements in Coquitlam; ƕ $1.98 million in wage enhancements in Maple Ridge- Mission; ƕ $1.17 million in wage enhancements in Pitt Meadows; and ƕ $865,000 in wage enhancements in Port Moody.
Learn More:
For information on health and safety standards for child care during COVID-19, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/ChildCareCovid-19Response
Child care factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/18430
For more about Childcare BC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare
A backgrounder follows.
Contact: Ministry of Children and Family Development Government Communications and Public Engagement 778 587-3237
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect BACKGROUNDER For Immediate Release Ministry of Children and Family Development 2021CFD0044-000980 May 21, 2021 New child care spaces create more options for families
This backgrounder contains additional information on the five projects that will create 340 new licensed child care spaces in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody and Coquitlam. It is expected that 142 of these spaces will be open to families by the end of this year.
Bright Butterfly Child Care Centre Ltd. (Pitt Meadows)
This new facility will create 32 new child care spaces, including 16 spaces for infants and toddlers and 16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. The centre will be fully accessible, including wheelchair ramps, accessible washrooms, a new HVAC system, washable vinyl flooring and a private playground with new equipment. Staff will be fluent in English, Farsi, Armenian and Turkish. Completion is expected by the end of May 2021.
Discovery Playhouse Children͛s Society (Pitt Meadows)
The City of Pitt Meadows is partnering with the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation to create the Pitt Meadows Civic Centre, an integrated child care facility with a family-oriented, affordable rental housing development. This facility, which will be located adjacent to Pitt Meadows Elementary school, will create 83 new child care spaces Ͷincluding 12 spaces for infants and toddlers, 26 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 25 spaces for school-aged children and 20 preschool spaces. Completion is expected by July 2024.
Sheffield-Partington Daycare (Coquitlam)
This new facility will be part of the new elementary school being built in the Partington Creek neighbourhood of Burke Mountain. It will create up to 55 new child care spaces, including up to 45 spaces for school-aged children and up to 10 preschool spaces. School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) will partner with a non-profit provider to operate the facility, which will include accessible washrooms, entryways and a playground. Completion is expected for the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Moody Elementary Daycare (Port Moody)
This new facility will be part of the new Moody Elementary school project. It is expected to create up to 60 new child care spaces, including up to 40 spaces for infants and toddlers and up to 20 spaces for school-age children. To support parents and guardians, School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) offers counselling, welcome sessions and programs for newcomers to Canada and immigrant families through their Settlement Workers in Schools program. Completion of the facility is expected to coincide with the completion of the new school.
The Family Education and Support Centre: Under the Tree Childcare Centre (Maple Ridge) The Family Education and Support Centre is renovating space in a former elementary school that will create 110 new child care spaces Ͷincluding 24 spaces for infants and toddlers, 38 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 48 spaces for school-age children. Services provided include child care, family support services, parent programs and resource referrals. Completion of the facility is expected by the end of the year.
Contact: Ministry of Children and Family Development Government Communications and Public Engagement 778 587-3237
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect