As a part of Child Care Month in B.C., the provincial government announced this week it is investing over $200,000 in the South Delta area to create 20 additional child care spaces.
Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton announced that Reach Child and Youth Development Society's planned child development centre in Ladner will receive $211,346 to fund 20 new preschool spaces for children aged three to five.
"We are thrilled to be in partnership with the province in developing a much-needed preschool within our new child development centre," said Reach executive director Renie D'Aquila.
Reach expects to begin construction on its $5 million centre adjacent to the Ladner Pioneer Library in late summer.
"Parents need high quality child care options and this funding will benefit a number of families in South Delta," said Hamilton. Last November, the province encouraged child-care providers to apply for the third phase of major capital funding to create new licensed child care spaces throughout B.C. These new spaces are part of government's commitment to support the creation of 13,000 new spaces by 2020.
Non-profit child-care providers applied for up to $500,000, while private child-care providers could apply for up to $250,000.
Priority was given to applications to create child care spaces in underserved areas of B.C. and on school grounds, where children can smoothly transition from early years programs, to the classroom, to after-school care.
