Making room for more childcare spaces
Our growing city recently received $25.1M funding to add childcare services to our future facilities, giving parents and families more options and support for their childcare needs. This funding comes from a program that supports new licensed childcare spaces, helping families access quality childcare that is affordable and inclusive. Childcare is a vital service that helps new parents and guardians balance their work and family life.
As plans were being considered for upgrades to recreation facilities, the City saw an opportunity to integrate childcare services into future facilities, creating more options and support for families with children in Kelowna. The ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund initiative combines provincial investments and federal funding to create 40,000 new high-quality flexible a licensed childcare spaces by fiscal year 2027-2028. Although these new spaces do not meet all the community's needs for childcare, they are a welcome step in the right direction.
Kelowna’s growth has outpaced the availability of new childcare spaces. Wait lists are long, with families sometimes waiting up to two years for a space. With this funding confirmed, the City will add 10,000 square feet of purpose-built dedicated childcare space within three new facilities as part of plans to build a stronger Kelowna and are slated to open in 2027. This will create 273 new spaces at three locations, including 36 spaces for infants, 75 spaces for pre-schoolers, and 162 spaces for school-age kids.
"These prime locations, located near residential neighbourhoods, parks and recreational opportunities, provide convenient options that will allow children and families in Kelowna to experience the full benefits of childcare,” says Mayor Dyas.
You may also have heard that 86 new childcare spaces were recently added at the YLW airport. Many residents work in aviation-related jobs or on the YLW campus and need reliable and convenient childcare options. The new Kelowna Airport YMCA Child Care Centre provides a convenient solution.
"The addition of the Kelowna Airport YMCA Child Care Centre has provided ease of access to quality care for my three children, enabling me to continue my career in aviation," said Bryana, an employee of KF Aerospace.
KF Aerospace chief corporate services officer Grant Stevens adds, "KF was thrilled to collaborate with YMCA and Kelowna Airport to establish this new and urgently needed childcare centre. Not only will this centre enable us to support our employees with young families by providing quality, on-site daycare options, but we're proud to continue investing in the local community in Kelowna."
Safe, reliable and convenient childcare is an essential part of a happy and balanced life for families with young children. The City of Kelowna and its partners are advocating for funding to create new daycare spaces in our rapidly growing city. The new spaces described in this article are the result of hard work by many, and it will take more hard work to keep up with the need so that we can maintain a strong economy and a great quality of life for the residents of Kelowna.
