48 new school child-care spaces announced

Mary Hill Elementary in Port Coquitlam and Eagle Ridge Elementary in Coquitlam are each set to receive 24 before- and after-school child-care spaces, the province said Monday. The 48 spaces are expected to open in 2027.

The repurposed rooms are part of a provincial plan to fund about 1,200 child-care spaces in schools across B.C. Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare said school-based child care gives families access to convenient, high-quality care in familiar settings.

The province will provide $2 million for start-up costs, including staff training and equipment, as well as $20 million in operating funding over the next three years.

Hampton Park Montessori changed providers earlier this year after the Coquitlam School District declined to renew the licence of a long-running child-care provider. The program had operated for more than two decades, serving about 50 children, with many more on a wait-list.

Port Coquitlam council approved a 52-space child-care centre at Lincoln Avenue and Coast Meridian Road earlier this year despite concerns from neighbours. Port Moody council is advancing plans for a child-care facility at its civic complex.