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May 13, 2024 - 11:30 AM
There are new childcare spaces at a daycare on elementary school grounds in Penticton.
The province gave the Okanagan Skaha School District $2.25 million to create 34 new spaces at Leapin Lizard’s Daycare Centre on Columbia Elementary school grounds, according to a press release issued today, May 13.
“Finding access to affordable, quality and inclusive child care can be extremely stressful for families,” Minister of State for Child Care Mitzi Dean said in the release. “Investments like these are life-changing for everyone. These new child care spaces will serve the Penticton community well and our government looks forward to creating more positive changes for families in the coming months and years.”
The money came from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund and went towards the building and buying new accessible playground equipment.
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“The board of education is grateful for the funding from the Ministry of Education and Child Care to create child care spaces in our schools,” the school district’s board chair James Palanio said in the release. “These new spaces will help local families have access to much-needed child care in our district.”
Since 2018, the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund has created 729 daycare spaces in and around Penticton.
The province said daycare centres on school grounds make life easier for families with one drop-off and pick-up location.
“When I was informed that there would be a new centre opening on school grounds allowing for extra child care spaces, it was a massive relief,” a parent of children attending the centre Morgan Rowe said in the release. “This new centre will allow for not only my family, but I’m sure many others, to continue to earn an income to support our families, while ensuring the safety and happiness of children.”
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