Child care expanded at Kelowna airport and schools

Hundreds of child care spaces have opened at schools and at the airport in Kelowna.

The province says 250 child care spaces located on school grounds have opened, with more on the way.

“Child care on school grounds makes life easier for busy parents and gives them peace of mind knowing their kids are in one place for the entire day, with one dropoff and pickup location,” Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care, said.

“By working with school districts like Central Okanagan Public Schools, we’re building a future where affordable, quality and inclusive child care is a core service families can depend on where and when they want it.”

There are 90 spaces provided at Ann McClymonth Elementary, 80 at Black Mountain Elementary, and 80 at Okanagan Mission Secondary.

The province added there are 350 more child care spaces split between Ellison Elementary in Kelowna, George Elliot Secondary, Hudson Road Elementary, and North Glenmore Elementary. These spaces are expected to be ready and open by this winter or next spring.

“We are glad to work with the ministry and our community partners to open new child care spaces,” Lee-Ann Tiede, chair, School District 23 Board of Education, said.

“Having child care connected to schools can provide easier transitions for preschoolers into our schools and offers much-needed support to working parents during those early years with children zero to 10 years old.”

Meanwhile, people working at, or living near, the Kelowna International Airport have new child care options.

The province announced that the Kelowna Airport YMCA Child Care Centre is open and offering 86 spaces for children aged five years old and younger.

“Kelowna children, their families and the growing local economy are benefiting from this new child care centre built with ChildCareBC New Spaces funding,” Lore said.

“We’ve partnered with the City of Kelowna on their innovative plan to co-locate child care at the expanding Kelowna International Airport where hundreds of people work each day.”

The standalone child care centre located at the airport is operated by YMCA of the Southern Interior.

“I want to thank all the partners who came together to make it possible to provide a child care facility at the Kelowna airport, supporting our employees and surrounding community. This is an important step to retain and grow a diverse aviation workforce in the Okanagan,” Sam Samaddar, CEO of Kelowna International Airport, said.

The child care spaces at Kelowna schools are being supported through a $29 million investment in the Central Okanagan School District through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund.

The City of Kelowna received approximately $3.8 million through the New Spaces Fund to build the facility at the airport.

“The Okanagan is a great place to raise kids, which is why more and more families are choosing to move here, resulting in an increased demand for child care,” Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee, said.

“Having access to affordable, quality child care helps families, our society and the community. Our government is investing in this new child care centre at the airport which will be an asset for years.”