Campbell River and Quadra Island families welcome the Campbell River School District’s announcement that they’re building seven brand-new childcare centers at different elementary schools in the area. These centers will offer childcare before and after school, giving families extra support.
Philip Cizmic, interim superintendent for School District 72, was glad to report that these centers will open when schools open at the beginning of September. “Access to quality childcare is crucial for working families, and we are confident that these new childcare centres will serve as a tremendous resource for years to come.”
While not all the centers will be fully finished by the beginning of the school year, the program will go through regardless. They’ll utilize temporary spaces in the schools and then move into the new centers as they finish.
“Co-locating childcare on school grounds will make life easier for busy parents in and around Campbell River. Keeping students in one place for the entire day will also make for smooth transitions to and from school and daycare for the children,” said Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island.
Opening as before and after-school care centers, they will be staffed by school district educational assistants. They will focus on creating a relaxing and engaging space for kids to be kids – giving their parents extra time to accomplish all the day-to-day tasks that come with being an adult.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care is pouring $6 million into these centers.
Construction work is beginning now at Ocean Grove, Quadra, Cedar, and Ripple Rock. The centers will be accessible to kids attending any of the seven elementary schools.
Babchuk said this has been a long time coming, parents have been asking for this for years, and she’s glad to see the project coming together finally.
“We’re creating childcare where families have told us it’s needed and building a future where access to affordable, quality, inclusive childcare is a core service families can depend on.”
