Province funds new childcare spaces at Campbell River learning centre

Troy Landreville

The province says it’s investing in affordable childcare.

Through Childcare BC’s New Spaces Fund, Island Life Early Learning Centre in Campbell River will see 12 new infant/toddler spaces. 

Located within the Salvation Army community church, the centre offers a number of services for families, including support for those who are new to Canada and Indigenous language programming. 

The centre also plans to host monthly guest speaker nights where parents can learn more about child development, nutrition and health.

North Island MLA Claire Trevena said the NDP government has a fundamental belief that investing in kids and early learning is “a great start.”

“We’re committed to creating childcare spaces right across the province, with bringing down the cost of childcare for parents, and making it much more accessible for families,” Trevena said. 

Read the full article here...

A Mother's Story

When I had my first baby, I enjoyed my time at home but as my parental leave came to an end I began to frantically search for child care. I contacted the local CCRR and
looked at various options. I was not impressed with the cost of childcare and the lack of quality I saw. I kept my child at home and took care of my niece to make ends meet. I was fortunate enough to receive help from family while I worked part-time in the evenings and on weekends.

When my second child was born my first attended preschool for a few hours a week. I was thankful for the short relief but as a university student and a mother with a newborn it was not enough support. I found myself often stressed and sick. I desperately called day care programs where I left my child’s name on the waitlist. Many daycare and preschool programs denied my child entry because he was not fully toilet trained at age 3. It hurt me deeply as a mother and educator to find many programs practicing exclusion based on their ‘toileting policy.’ In the time I stayed home with my two children I grew increasingly anxious about not being able to find child care.

SRDC wants to hear how BC’s Early Care and Learning Recruitment and Retention Strategy has impacted you and those who work with you.

The survey is intended for everyone in the child care workforce plus educators and educator assistants holding certificates but not currently working with children. More information is available at ecebc.ca/2019Survey. You can also contact SRDC at [email protected] or 1-833-298-3016.

Click here or on the link below to share your thoughts and help inform the future of child care in BC. Please forward this invitation to others in the sector.

Every person completing the survey will receive a choice of thank you gift developed by ECEBC and will also have the chance to win prizes!

This is the link to the survey: https://na1se.voxco.com/SE/99/bcchildcaresurvey2019/

SRDC looks forward to hearing from everyone in the sector, please spread the word!

Parents feel squeezed by child-care costs. Here’s where they want help

Federal election 2019: Where do the major parties stand on family and child care?

Although household income is on the rise in Canada, many families are still feeling strapped for cash. Here is a look at the promises the major parties have made to ease the financial burdens of raising a family.

Port Alberni ‘Stroller Brigade’ marches for child care

ELENA RARDON  Oct. 7, 2019

Port Alberni parents, guardians and early childhood educators joined others across British Columbia in a Stroller Brigade for Child Care last weekend.

Dozens gathered at Wallace Street and Wood Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 5 before walking down to Gord Johns’ campaign office on 10th Avenue to send a message to the federal government that child care is an important issue for the community as a whole. Port Alberni was one of 21 communities across the province taking part in the brigade, bringing attention to the importance of maintaining current federal child care funding agreements—and growing them over time.

The message is especially important to get out during a federal election, explained organizer and educator Carrie Nahorney.

“[Funding] is decided through the province, how it’s going to be spent,” she explained. “But a huge chunk of this money comes federally.”

British Columbia, she said, currently receives $50 million annually from the federal government for child care. But educators are hoping to grow this in order to help B.C. fully implement the popular “$10 a Day” Child Care Plan.

If we’re serious about getting more women in executive roles, a universal childcare system is crucial

B.C. parents aim to put child care on the federal election agenda

Ian Holliday, CTV News Vancouver
Published Saturday, October 5, 2019

Parents rallied in 21 communities across B.C. Saturday to draw attention to an issue they want to see discussed on the campaign trail during this federal election: child care.

Dozens of people gathered for the Vancouver rally at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in Yaletown.

Sharon Gregson, spokesperson for the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., told CTV News Vancouver the rallies aimed to convince federal parties to -- at minimum -- maintain current levels of federal funding for the B.C.'s current $10 per day child care pilot program.

"We're really glad to say that three of the four major political parties have stepped up and made additional commitments beyond that $50 million," Gregson said. "We want child care to be visible and for whoever is elected on Oct. 21 to know we'll be holding them accountable for their child care promises."

Kate Spence attended the rally with her daughter, but she said even non-parents should be in favour of subsidized child care.

"Even if you're not a parent, your life will be affected by this," Spence said. "This is keeping people out of the workforce on all levels -- hospitality, tourism, you know, I know an anesthesiologist who's struggling to find care right now."

With additional investment from the federal government, programs like B.C.'s could be introduced and expanded across the country, Gregson said.

"We know there are tens of thousands of families across B.C. now that are benefiting from lower fees because of investments the provincial government is making, and if the federal government steps up, we know that that $10-a-day reality will be more widespread."

Langley march calls for affordable daycare

Stroller Brigade on Saturday was one of several such demonstrations in B.C.

JOTI GREWAL Oct. 5, 2019

About two dozen parents and kids marched around the Langley Events Centre Saturday afternoon, carrying signs that read, “Kids matter/Invest in child care now,” “we want $10/day child care,” and “vote child care.

Organizer Alicia Rempel was pleased by the turnout.

“It’s our first year,” she noted.

“It’s not an issue that has typically received much attention.”

There were other stroller brigades in other B.C. communities Saturday, all lobbying for affordable and accessibility child care.

“We would like to see a national child care strategy,” Rempel told the Langley Advance Times.