Several new provincially funded childcare options at Nanaimo schools are still a ways from becoming reality. (Freepik)

By Ian Holmes

childcare

Reannounced child care spaces in Nanaimo won’t open imminently

Apr 27, 2022 | 6:12 AM

NANAIMO — Additional child care options announced at a trio of Nanaimo schools won’t be ready for the foreseeable future.

The ministry of education and child care recently announced financial support for 168 child care spaces in Nanaimo, including at Pleasant Valley and currently closed Cilaire elementary schools (52 each) along with Ecole Quarterway Elementary (24 spaces).

The same number of spaces for those schools were announced in a separate news release from the ministry last spring, however the province confirmed the latest investments in Nanaimo don’t equate to a doubling of capacity in consecutive years.

“The Province agreed to higher funding levels for the three Board of Education of School District 68 projects to account for increased costs resulting from the pandemic in order to ensure families will get access to these important child care spaces,” a statement of clarification from the ministry of education and child care read.

School District 68 confirmed the incoming child care capacity at the three schools are all slated to be operational late late in the 2023/24 school year.

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Non profit BGC Central Vancouver Island’s Great Futures Learning program recently received funding for 40 spaces, which the province stated is a new financial commitment.

The new capacity under the established non-profit will cover infant/toddler’s and school aged children at its Fifth St. location, executive director Karen Love confirmed.

“We need to now put a plan in place. We are estimating they will be ready around early 2023,” Love told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Work continues behind the scenes to potentially expand on-site childcare options at Nanaimo elementary schools.

School District 68 staff are currently examining the possibility of its unionized support staff providing before and after school care for elementary aged students.

A report on the idea is expected to be tabled to school board trustees this fall.

More than 800 children are enrolled in on-site child minding and before/after school care at SD 68 schools, which are mainly provided by private operators.

According to the province, child care costs for more than 30,000 children are subsidized on a sliding scale through the Affordable Child Care Benefit based on annual household income levels up to $111,000.

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