Fraser Valley – September 9 UPDATE – Starting on Oct. 1, 2024, applications will be accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program, which will create more low-cost child care options for families throughout B.C.
“We will be delivering even more $10-a-day spaces to B.C. families because we know what a difference these spaces make,” said Rachna Singh, B.C. Minister of Education and Child Care. “By making child care more affordable, families are able to pursue more opportunities, which will benefit everyone. I want to thank the child care providers who are partnering with us to deliver these life-changing savings to families.”
The $10-a-day program is helping B.C families by reducing the average cost of child care for full-time, centre-based care, from $1,120 a month to $200 a month. On average, families save approximately $920 a month per child with a $10-a-day space.
All licensed child care providers are encouraged to apply for this program. Priority will be given to larger non-profit, publicly delivered and Indigenous-led providers, which primarily offer care to children five and younger, and in communities that have no spaces or a low number of $10-a-day spaces compared to their region’s population density. Additionally, this year’s changes to acceptance criteria will help ensure families with low incomes have better access to $10-a-day spaces.
“YMCA BC is the largest provider of licensed child care in the province and knows first-hand how much families benefit from having access to quality, affordable child care services,” said Cathy Poole, vice-president, Children and Youth Services, YMCA BC. “As a charity committed to igniting the potential in those we serve and support, the Y looks forward to continuing to work with all levels of government and the child care sector to provide families and children with happy and healthy child care experiences.”
Sites offering the $10 a Day ChildCareBC are not income-tested and are open to any family, regardless of finances. The Province is also helping families with the cost of child care through other affordability programs, such as the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which can be combined with the other affordability programs for families that need it most.
ORIGINAL STORY – The newly approved Provincial $10 a Day spaces are being offered at 27 child care centres throughout B.C., bringing the total number of $10 a Day spaces in B.C. to over 15,000, keeping the province on course to achieve the goal of 20,000 spaces by spring 2026.
Effective Monday, April 1, 2024, families can no longer be charged a fee to put their name on a waitlist at licensed child care centres.
This intake focussed on areas that did not yet have $10 a Day spaces, or that had a low number compared with the population to best ensure families in more regions could access this program.
For the Valley :
| Abbotsford | Eagles Nest Early Learning Centre (Not-for-profit) | 12 (Under 36 Months) 42 (Age 3-5 years) 36 (School-Age) |
| Abbotsford | Frist Step Day Care Centre (Corporate/Limited Company) | 21(Under 36 Months) 25 (Age 3-5 years) 19 (School-Age) |
| Abbotsford | New Beginnings Daycare Program – Mouat Drive (Not-for-profit) | 32 (Under 36 Months) |
| Chilliwack | Elm Drive YMCA Child Care (Not-for-profit) | 12 (Under 36 Months) 25 (Age 3-5 years) |
| Chilliwack | Fraser River CEC: Centre of Early Childhood Development & Family Services Inc. (Corporate/Limited Company) | 8 (Under 36 Months) 14 (Age 3-5 years) 24 (School-Age) |
| Chilliwack | Growing Naturally In-Home-Multi-Age Child Care (Sole Proprietor) | 7 (Group Multi-Age) |
| Langley | Donna Gabriel Robins YMCA Childcare and Kids Club (Not-for-profit) | 25 (Age 3-5 years) 54 (School-Age) 20 (Preschool) |
| Langley | Fort Langley Child Care Society (Not-for-profit) | 20 (Age 3-5 years) 34 (School-Age) |
| Langley | New Generations Early Learning Centre (Not-for-profit) | 12 (Under 36 Months) 16 (Age 3-5 years) |
| Langley | Sonshine Street Preschool & Child Care Centre (Not-for-profit) | 12 (Under 36 Months) 18 (Age 3-5 years) 40 (Preschool) |
| Maple Ridge | Albion Good Beginnings Daycare (Sole Proprietor) | 7 (Family) |
| Maple Ridge | Albion YMCA Child Care (Not-for-profit) | 24 (Age 3-5 years) |
| Maple Ridge | Under the Tree Childcare Centre (Not-for-profit) | 14 (Under 36 Months) 14 (Age 3-5 years) 11 (School-Age) |
| Mission | Heritage Park Childcare Centre (Not-for-profit) | 12 (Under 36 Months) 25 (Age 3-5 years) |
| Pitt Meadows | Discovery Playhouse Children’s Centre (Not-for-profit) | 24 (Age 3-5 years) 23 (School-Age) 48 (Preschool) |
For more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/30568
