News Release

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Children and Family Development 2021CFD0020-000340 March 2, 2021 Vancouver Island parents to benefit from new child care spaces

VICTORIA ʹFamilies on Vancouver Island will soon have access to nearly 340 new licensed child care spaces as part of the Province͛s ongoing commitment to increasing access to child care through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

͞Having access to child care is fundamental for people to be able to take advantage of all the opportunities their communities have to offer,͟said Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island. ͞We know that having secure child care spaces is vital to the future of Tahsis, just like rural and remote communities everywhere. We also know that when it comes to delivering services people count on, different regions have different needs.͟

The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund is supporting nine projects to create 336 new licensed child care spaces in Greater Victoria, Sooke, Tahsis and North Saanich. These spaces are part of the fastest creation of child care spaces in B.C.͛s history and were part of the September 2020 milestone that marked more than 20,000 new spaces funded throughout the province in just over two years.

͞Government has been working hard, in collaboration with communities of all sizes, to make sure people can get access to child careͶno matter whether they live in Tahsis or Greater Victoria,͟Babchuk said. ͞These investments in new spaces will help give kids a great start in life and level the playing field for young families all around the Island.͟

New child care spaces are on the way for families in the following communities:

Greater Victoria (210 spaces) Sooke (62 spaces) Tahsis (eight spaces) North Saanich (56 spaces)

͞As with other small, rural and remote communities in B.C., infrastructure and service solutions in Tahsis require a high level of collaboration, creativity and commitment on behalf of local stakeholders and partners ʹchild care is no exception,͟said Martin Davis, mayor, Village of Tahsis. ͞The village, school district and other stakeholders came together to support this project, which will not only save the community͛s only daycare, but enhance the service for children and families.͟

An additional 4,110 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, licensed spaces funded in B.C. to more than 24,500 since July 2017.

͞These new child care spaces for families on Vancouver Island are bringing us one step closer to delivering the quality, affordable and inclusive child care that all B.C. families deserve,͟said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. ͞Child care for families is key to B.C.͛s economic recovery, and these new spaces will make it easier for parents, especially mothers who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, to return to work or school.͟

Quick Facts:

Since July 2018, more than 20,000 new licensed child care spaces have been funded in British Columbia, including 1,630 spaces in Greater Victoria, 84 spaces in Sooke and 213 spaces in North Saanich and the surrounding areas. Throughout the province, the Childcare BC plan has helped parents save up to $1,600 a month per child through the Affordable Child Care Benefit and Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. As a result of these investments, parents in Victoria, North Saanich, Sooke and Tahsis have saved almost $50 million on child care. Early childhood educators in these communities have received more than $3 million in wage enhancements. Through B.C.͛s combined affordability initiatives, more than 36,000 children have received child care for $10/day or less since the beginning of the Childcare BC plan.

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

To learn more about the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/newspacesfund

For more about Childcare BC, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare

For a French translation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021CFD0020- 000340#translations

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 2021CFD0020-000340 March 2, 2021 Childcare BC New Spaces Fund creates more options for families

Learn more about the new spaces that are coming for families in Greater Victoria, Sooke, Tahsis and North Saanich.

Crosstown Daycare Program (Victoria) Run by the Beacon Community Association, the Crosstown Daycare Program will offer a total of 36 new licensed child care spaces ʹ12 infant and toddler spaces and 24 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. Opening in January 2023, Crosstown will offer a variety of programs to support the well-being of families, including health and counselling, family development, housing and homelessness prevention, along with employment and volunteer opportunities.

Sundance Elementary Childcare (Victoria) Greater Victoria School District 61 is partnering with Oaklands Community Association to create 44 new spaces at Sundance Elementary ʹ16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 16 preschool spaces and 20 school-age spaces. The new centre is expected to open in January 2022.

Kids Klub Centre Lake Hill Site (Victoria) Greater Victoria School District 61 is continuing its partnership with the Vancouver Island Kids Klub Centre Society to create 40 new child care spaces at Lake Hill Elementary ʹ16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. The Kids Klub Brown Bag program will provide free daily lunches to support vulnerable children in the Victoria, Saanich and Sooke School Districts. The spaces are expected to open in July 2022.

Kids Klub Centre McKenzie School (Victoria) In partnership with the Vancouver Island Kids Klub Centre Society, Greater Victoria School District 61 is creating 40 new spaces at McKenzie Elementary ʹ16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. The spaces are expected to open in July 2022.

Hillcrest Elementary Out of School Care and Ready Set Grow (Victoria) Greater Victoria School District 61 is working with the Hillcrest Elementary Out of School Care Society to create 50 new child care spaces at the school ʹ16 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten, 10 preschool spaces and 24 school-age spaces. Working closely with the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children, the new spaces will be fully accessible. Staff will also integrate the seven teachings policy through stories, arts and crafts, and play. The spaces are expected to open in January 2022. Homey Land Daycare (Sooke) Opening in May 2021, the Homey Land Daycare will provide a total of 25 new licensed child care spaces ʹeight infant/toddler spaces and 17 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. The centre will provide a rich environment for children to grow, socialize and play. Homey Land Daycare will support families that are new to Canada by providing services in multiple languages, including Arabic, Russian and French.

Choo Choo, Let͛s Go! Childcare Centre/Centre de Garde Inc. (Sooke) The Choo Choo, Let's Go! Childcare Centre is expanding to create two additional classrooms in May 2022. This expansion will add a total of 37 new child care spaces ʹ12 infant/toddler spaces and 25 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten. Choo Choo, Let͛s Go! is an inclusive, multi-language child care centre, which incorporates activities such as yoga, music, and mini zumba into the curriculum. Operators will offer free professional development workshops for their staff and participate in local community projects.

Tahsis Child Care Centre (Tahsis) The Tahsis Child Care Centre moved from an old community centre to a classroom within Captain Meares Elementary Secondary school and offers a total of eight licensed child care spaces. The Tahsis Child Care Centre, which opened its doors to families in December 2020, provides nutritious meals for children at no extra cost to parents.

Tseycum Childcare Centre (North Saanich) The Tseycum Childcare Centre will address the critical need for childcare in the community by adding a total of 56 new licensed spaces ʹeight infant/toddler spaces, 12 spaces for children aged three years to kindergarten and 36 school-age spaces. Expected to open in December 2021, the centre will implement the Tseycum Wellness Plan and follow the BC First Nations and Aboriginal Maternal, Child and Family Strategic Approach.

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