The City of Kamloops has announced it was successful in its ChildCareBC new Spaces Fund application and will be moving ahead with the development of a new child care facility.
On Tuesday, the city said the funding will see the development of a 36-space child care space in the Station Plaza at 510 Lorne Street.
There will be 12 spaces for children aged 0 to 30 months and 24 spaces for children aged 30 months to school age, a release from the city says.
The facility is meant to meet a growing demand for child care among city employees, with remaining sports being available to other families in Kamloops.
According to the release, the project stemmed from significant engagement with city employees in 2022, which identified a growing understanding of the child care shortages in the city, which led to a barrier to employment and career advancement.
That engagement found city employees struggling to find care for their children, which impacted their ability to perform their jobs or manage their personal lives adequately. The release says this led to staff turning down promotions, turning down shifts and taking extended parental leave.
“With the much-appreciated ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, offering access to child care is now a cost-effective way for the City to maintain and attract the workforce we need to provide core services to Kamloops residents,” says Colleen Quigley, the City’s Human Resources and Safety Director, in the release.
“As we work to assess and meet the needs of City employees, the needs of the broader community have been a key consideration. Spots unfilled by City employees will be available to other families in the community, and the overall increase in local child care capacity is a win for everyone.”
Construction has already started and an opening ceremony is being planned for Aug. 1, 2024.
The new Lorne Street Child Care Centre will be run by the non-profit Saltair Childcare Society, which was founded as part of a partnership plan for Inquiring Little Minds in 2018.
According to the city, the child care spaces will not be subsidized through municipal taxes and while city employees will have priority access, they will be paying market rates for the services.
Any questions about the facility can be directed to [email protected].
