Province expands child care access, 76 spaces for Victoria families

Victoria families will soon have more options for child care, as the Government of British Columbia expands access across the province. A total of 76 new spaces are opening on school grounds in the Greater Victoria School District, with 40 at the Kids Klub Centre McKenzie school, and 36 at a childcare centre at Victoria High Secondary School New Democrat MLAs Nina Krieger and Lana Popham say the spaces will help families balance work and home life. "As our region continues to grow, having child care spaces on school grounds will help families thrive," said Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. "These new spaces will make life easier for parents by giving them an easier drop-off and pickup location." "Our community is a great place for families to settle and grow, with access to the outdoors and nearby amenities," said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South. "These new child care spaces are one more way we are supporting families now and into the future." Other Island communities are also seeing new child care opportunities. Nanaimo will get 52 new spaces, Port Alberni 22, Tofino 76, and Ucluelet 44. The province is providing $23.5 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces fund to create 640 new child care spaces in 12 communities around B.C.  The New Spaces Fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The agreement has recently been extended through 2030-31. Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s programs have helped fund more than 41,500 new licensed child care spaces in B.C., with 26,200 already open and serving families. The latest expansion continues the province’s efforts to make child care more accessible, affordable, and convenient for families across urban and rural communities.