Childcare

Kelowna Mission MLA Renee Merrifield delivered the ‘feelings banner’ from the Starbright Children’s Development Centre rally to the B.C. Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 14. (Contributed)

Strong feelings for Kelowna’s Starbright Child Centre delivered to Legislature

Starbright Children’s Development Centre was given a two-year extension on Friday, Feb. 3

 

A crowd of around 150 people gathered at Starbright child development care centre to celebrate their new two-year extension but also to continue their fight to keep the centre alive. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)

Kelowna childcare facility given two-year extension, supporters shine at rally

“The Starbright parents have been absolute and committed advocates for their children”

 

Starbright Child Development Centre is set to close at the end of June. (Photo/Starbright)

Kelowna child development centre strives to shine in face of closure

‘Our agency has been a hub of services for decades’

 

Children’s backpacks and shoes are seen at a CEFA (Core Education and Fine Arts) Early Learning daycare franchise, in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. Families in Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care, the first jurisdiction to achieve the goal under a Canada-wide plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

As parents celebrate lower child-care fees, will provinces keep up with demand?

Shortage of early childhood educators has been an ongoing issue

Children’s backpacks and shoes are seen at a CEFA (Core Education and Fine Arts) Early Learning daycare franchise, in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. Families in Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care, the first jurisdiction to achieve the goal under a Canada-wide plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Families Minister Karina Gould is expected to introduce legislation today to strengthen child care in Canada, which is likely to include an effort to secure a long-term role for Ottawa in the new national daycare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Liberals aim to secure long-term role for feds in national child-care system

New legislation introduced, does not make any specific financial promises

Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Families Minister Karina Gould is expected to introduce legislation today to strengthen child care in Canada, which is likely to include an effort to secure a long-term role for Ottawa in the new national daycare system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich daycare kerfuffle reveals dire state of childcare in Greater Victoria

Non-refundable deposit not returned once parents learned of provider’s criminal history

Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
The Edmonton Avenue child care centre took on

New Penticton child care centre one step closer to opening

The Edmonton Avenue child care centre will open in November with a waiting list

The Edmonton Avenue child care centre took on
The City of Penticton will be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the YMCA of the Southern Interior of BC in support of developing a childcare centre within the community centre. (Black Press file photo)

Penticton looks to construct childcare facility within city’s community centre

A childcare plan in its early stages is coming to council on Sept. 6

The City of Penticton will be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the YMCA of the Southern Interior of BC in support of developing a childcare centre within the community centre. (Black Press file photo)
Applications for B.C.’s $10-a-day child care program opened June 20. (Black Press Media file photo)

Applications open for $10-a-day child care as B.C. doubles number of spaces available

Spaces to expand from 6,500 to 12,500 by December, province says

Applications for B.C.’s $10-a-day child care program opened June 20. (Black Press Media file photo)
Like many infants, Carolyn Foggo’s son Cobe needs a hypallergenic formula. (Photo credit/Taylor Kizyma)

West Kelowna mom wrestles with baby formula shortage

Baby formula shortage in the U.S. being felt in the Okanagan

Like many infants, Carolyn Foggo’s son Cobe needs a hypallergenic formula. (Photo credit/Taylor Kizyma)
Manisha Willms heads up the OSNS in Penticton as executive director. (Submitted)

Women in Business: At the heart of the job is always the kids

Manisha Willms is the executive director of OSNS

Manisha Willms heads up the OSNS in Penticton as executive director. (Submitted)
The Little Phoenix Daycare officially opened in Victoria Thursday. The centre is the first trauma-informed daycare in B.C. and only the second in Canada. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

B.C.’s first trauma-informed daycare opens in Victoria

Little Phoenix aims to inform policy and inspire similar approaches to childcare

The Little Phoenix Daycare officially opened in Victoria Thursday. The centre is the first trauma-informed daycare in B.C. and only the second in Canada. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Columbia Elementary (Google maps)

Penticton is getting 110 new child care spaces

The spaces will be split between the hospital and Columbia Elementary

Columbia Elementary (Google maps)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, watch Karina Gould, second left, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada and Stephen Lecce, second right, Ontario Minister of Education officially sign an agreement in $10-a-day child-care program deal in Brampton, Ont., on Monday, March 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

With daycare deals done, Liberals look to craft bill to enshrine child-care system

Deal with NDP gives government extra time to craft legislation

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, watch Karina Gould, second left, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada and Stephen Lecce, second right, Ontario Minister of Education officially sign an agreement in $10-a-day child-care program deal in Brampton, Ont., on Monday, March 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The District of Tofino is celebrating the successful hiring of three new staffers for its Community Children’s Centre. (file photo)

Staff-strapped B.C. town scores childcare workers with free tuition, housing

District of Tofino takes unique approach to address childcare resource crunch

The District of Tofino is celebrating the successful hiring of three new staffers for its Community Children’s Centre. (file photo)
(File photo/Black Press Media)

Province adds $10/day childcare spots in Thompson-Okanagan

Childcare centres in Kelowna, Penticton, Lumby, Kamloops, and Clearwater getting 309 new spaces

(File photo/Black Press Media)
Local politicians and representatives from OneSky and the architect for the new Edmonton Avenue Child Care Centre gathered for a brief update on the project. The facility is expected to add 116 new spaces when it opens in the fall of 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Penticton child care centre still on track to open fall 2022

The facility will add 116 new child care spaces to the community when it opens

Local politicians and representatives from OneSky and the architect for the new Edmonton Avenue Child Care Centre gathered for a brief update on the project. The facility is expected to add 116 new spaces when it opens in the fall of 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
After a successful $10k fundraiser during the holiday season, the Naramata Child Development Centre will continue to offer its services to the community. (Photo courtesy of the Naramata Child Development Centre)

Naramata Child Development Centre lives Christmas miracle, raises more than $10k

Naramata’s only child care centre needed to raise $10k by Dec. 31 after declaring ‘critical situation’

After a successful $10k fundraiser during the holiday season, the Naramata Child Development Centre will continue to offer its services to the community. (Photo courtesy of the Naramata Child Development Centre)
Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in Ottawa on Thursday, December 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

Canada Child Benefit still needed alongside national daycare system, minister says

Even if child care dips to $10 a day, minister says some families may need more aid

Families, Children and Social Development Minister Karina Gould rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in Ottawa on Thursday, December 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will announce a deal they've reached on child care during an event in Edmonton today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta latest province to ink $10-a-day child-care deal with federal government

Deal is for $3.8 billion in federal funding over the next five years

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will announce a deal they've reached on child care during an event in Edmonton today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh