City Partnership Receives Child Care Planning Grant

Local Governments Come Together for Child Care Needs Assessment

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed June 25, 2019 12:00 PM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo has partnered with the District of Lantzville, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and the Regional District of Nanaimo to undertake a study of child care needs in our community.

The partnership has received a $125,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to assess existing child care spaces in our communities, identify how many child care spaces are currently needed, and estimate how many will likely be needed in coming years. The study includes School Districts 68 and 69, as well as First Nations communities adjacent to the partnering local governments.

The end goal of the project is to create an action plan for each of these jurisdictions that provides a strategic, coordinated approach to increasing access to affordable, quality early learning and child care options. The resulting plan will identify the short, medium and long term actions necessary to support the development of additional community-supported child care spaces.

The funding comes from the Community Child Care Planning Program; a $3-million partnership between the Province and UBCM that began in September 2018.

Link to Strategic Plan: Supports the key themes of Livability and Economic Health.

Key Points

The City of Nanaimo has partnered with neighbouring local governments to receive a $125,000 Child Care Planning Grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
The project will create a strategic, coordinated approach to increasing access to affordable and appropriate child care through the creation of new child care spaces in our community.
This local study is a part of the Community Child Care Planning Program, which is funding studies across the province as a part of a $3-million partnership between the Province and UBCM.

Quotes

"With a continuing shift towards two-income families, and single, working parents, quality and affordable childcare options are more important now than ever. This study will help identify new ways to support and develop those options."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

"This research will look at daycare needs for infants through preschool-aged children, and before and after school care options. For children with working parents, quality daycare can provide great social and learning environments."

Ian Thorpe

Board Chair

Regional District of Nanaimo

-30-

Contact:

Lisa Bhopalsingh

Manager, Community & Cultural Planning

City of Nanaimo

250-755-4423

Print News Release

Is there anything wrong with this page?

Help us improve our website

Don't include private or financial information in this form.

Email Address

What you were doing

What went wrong

Collection and use of your personal information

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.