As the school year gets started, 220 new licensed child-care spaces will open up across the city and on school grounds, thanks to $8.2 million in grants from the provincial and federal governments.
This includes eight spaces for infant toddlers, 100 spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age and 112 spaces for school-age care across the city.
"These child care spaces will provide much-needed support to parents looking for quality, affordable and inclusive childcare," said MLA Aman Singh at the announcement.
In 2021, the federal and provincial governments announced they would reduce all child-care fees to $10 a day by 2026.
"That is money that can go to healthy meals, clothes for growing children and savings for future education. It's also money that helps our local economy to grow and thrive," said Singh.
Richmond School District now has seven purpose-built child-care facilities at Tomsett, Maple Lane, Manoah Steves, Whiteside, McKinney and William Bridge elementary schools and at the Mitchell Adult Education Centre.
School Trustee Debbie Tablotney said these facilities will make a difference for families.
"These spaces will create economic stability in the long run by allowing parents to work knowing that they are leaving their children in an environment that is safe for them to play and learn," said Tablotney.
"Locating these child-care spaces alongside our schools builds a sense of community, familiarity and belonging for children who will move on to the elementary schools they are attached to."
Singh was joined by MPs Parm Bains and Wilson Miao, NDP MLAs Kelly Greene and Henry Yao, and members of the Richmond Board of Education at James Whiteside elementary on Friday morning for the announcement.
Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected]. To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter. Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
