Lumby, Kelowna getting $10-a-day child care spaces

The B.C. Government has approved 84 sites to host $10-a-day child care, including facilities in Lumby and Kelowna.

The sites were selected after applying to be part of the Universal Child Care Prototype Site program last fall.

The approved site in Lumby is the Bridge Educational Society, which will provide 24 infant-toddler spots, 20 three year old to kindergarten age spaces and 15 school age spots. The spaces will be provided at the Early Years Centre.

The Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA of Okanagan Association have been approved to run $10-a-day child care in Kelowna.

The Boys and Girls Club will provide 16 three year old to kindergarten age spots and 40 school age spaces at the Rutland Centre. It will also offer 16 spaces for children three year old to kindergarten age at the West Kelowna Club.

The YMCA Child Care at Kelowna Secondary School will offer 10 infant-toddler spaces and 18 preschool spots.

No child care facilities in Vernon were part of today’s announcement.

Other communities in the Okanagan benefiting from the expansion of the $10-a-day child care program are Kamloops (Kamloops Christian School Association) and Penticton (Onesky Community Resources Society; Penticton Indian Band; and YMCA of Okanagan Association).

“We believe child care should be a core service that families can count on when they need it, at a price they can afford,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care.

“We’ve heard from families that receiving $10 a Day child care is life changing. That’s why, as part of our ChildCareBC plan, we’ve committed to making low-cost child care a reality for families.”

Since the program was launched in 2018, more than 6,500 child care spaces at 130 facilities have transitioned to the $10-a-day model, making child care more affordable for British Columbians.

The Universal Child Care Prototype Site program is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.