A new assessment will look at the lack of child care spaces across the Regional District of Nanaimo in an effort to craft further helpful changes. (The Canadian Press)

By Spencer Sterritt

child care

New assessment finding solutions to lack of child care spaces in Nanaimo and area

Jun 25, 2019 | 10:18 AM

NANAIMO — It’s hoped a new assessment will provide a never-seen-before look at the lack of child care space across the Nanaimo area.

The City of Nanaimo is now working with the Regional District of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School District, as well as Snuneymuxw and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations, to look at how many child care spaces are currently provided and how many more are needed.

Lisa Bhopalsingh, manager of community and cultural planning with the City of Nanaimo, said this will give them a sense of where barriers to child care are across an area wider than they’ve ever considered before.

“We know people who work in one area may need child care in another. The assessment will…leave us in a position to work with our partners to say ‘How do we fill those gaps? What are our roles versus the province, school district and others?'”

The assessment will further lead to an action plan for each jurisdiction involved.

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Bhopalsingh said the work will align with other City efforts, such as the affordable housing action strategy.

“The City has influences on a range of different pieces as we develop. It’s not simply the role of an educational institute to train people. We also have a business community to look at what keeps people in our region, in certain fields.”

It’s hoped a draft of the assessment will be before Nanaimo council by summer 2020.

“With a continuing shift towards two-income families, and single, working parents, quality and affordable childcare options are more important now than ever,” mayor Leonard Krog said in a release.

Creating the assessment will cost roughly $125,000, paid for through a grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit