Province will be investing in more than 30 new child care spaces in Squamish and Whistler.
In Brackensdale, Little Peak Childcare will receive funding to create 16 new child care spaces for children aged three to five.
The centre will offer French as an additional language, as well as lessons in topics such as math, science, music and sports. The funding provided by the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund was instrumental in enabling Little Peak Squamish to create a new, high-quality daycare facility, said Madeleine Cott, early childhood educator, Little Peak Childcare.
The funding will also enable Whistler Waldorf School Society to create 16 new spaces for children aged three to five. Programming offers connections to the natural world through outdoor play and nature walks, with songs and stories helping children develop their language skills.
The centre offers meals and snacks free of charge, with children involved in baking bread and preparing food for their meals.
Staff at the facility are fluent in multiple languages, and workshops for parents help teach early childhood and parenting skills.
“Whistler Waldorf School is excited to be able to expand our early years program for 30 months to school-age children at the Early Years Centre in Spring Creek,” said Rubeena Sandhu, head of school, Whistler Waldorf Montessori.
“As a registered not-for-profit society committed to protecting and nurturing childhood, we couldn’t have done it without the access to funding from the New Spaces Fund. The new centre will help alleviate the high demand for play school spaces by providing a natural and nurturing environment. We look forward to serving more families in Whistler and Pemberton.”
According to the Government of BC, almost 80 new, affordable licensed child care spaces in the Sea to Sky Region have been funded since the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund launched in July 2018.