March 25, 2008
PRINCE GEORGE – Almost $500,000 in provincial funding will help the Family YMCA of Prince George create 77 new licensed child-care spaces, announced Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Mount Robson.
“As a community hub, the Family YMCA of Prince George provides a single place for families with young children to find support services and programs – including child care,” said Bond. “This hub partnership increases the choices for Prince George families and strengthens the early learning and development of our youngest residents.”
Funding for the project comes from the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s major capital funding program. It is part of $12.5 million announced in October 2007 to increase child-care choices for families in every region of the province.
“Last fall, we set a goal of creating more than 2,000 new licensed spaces by 2010, and these new spaces will help us meet that goal,” said Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care. “The Family YMCA of Prince George can now begin renovations and expansions that will increase child-care options for Prince George children and families.”
“Our goal, as parents and community members, must be to work together to build a successful child-care system,” said Prince George North MLA Pat Bell. “These new child-care spaces will help meet the needs of our local children and families, now and for the long term.”
The major capital funding was made available to all child-care providers – non-profit organizations, and private sector and licensed family child-care providers – as they all play a key role in the provision of quality early learning and child-care services across B.C.
“It is vital that growing families create a proper foundation to build from,” said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. “Our government’s investment will ensure parents, children and child-care providers have the help they need for a healthy beginning.”
“We are proud to be engaged in such an innovative partnership with the Province,” said Pat Flack, board chair of the Family YMCA of Prince George. “The creation of multi-aged child-care spaces on this scale addresses a major gap for families with more than one child seeking high-quality licensed child care.”
The government of B.C. has funded the creation of 3,300 new child-care spaces since 2001, bringing the total number of funded, licensed child-care spaces to more than 86,000.
For more information on child-care programs and services in British Columbia, visit www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare.
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