Four East Kootenay schools are set to receive a combined 100 new before- and after-school child-care spaces as part of a provincewide expansion.
The B.C. government said it is creating approximately 1,200 new licensed spaces across 22 school districts by repurposing existing space in schools. The spaces are expected to open within the next year.
Rocky Mountain School District and Southeast Kootenay School District are among the districts receiving funding.
The East Kootenay additions include 24 spaces each at Lindsay Park Elementary in Kimberley, Marysville Elementary in Marysville and T.M. Roberts Elementary in Cranbrook, along with 28 spaces at Eileen Madson Primary in Invermere.
“Before and after school can be a hectic time for parents and caregivers. By creating more child care on school grounds, we are giving more families access to convenient, high-quality child care, in places they already know and trust,” said Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare, who is also acting infrastructure minister.
“Empowering school districts to repurpose existing child-centred spaces for before- and after-school care is another important piece of a child care system that works for families, kids and communities,” Beare said.
The province said $5 million in capital funding from the Ministry of Infrastructure will support renovations and the repurposing of existing school space.
“Access to child care on school grounds can make a meaningful difference in the everyday lives of families. It can simplify drop-offs and pickups, reduce the pressure of balancing work, school and caregiving responsibilities, and provide children with a familiar and supportive environment before and after the school day.” said Non Ha, executive director, B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC).
The B.C. government will also support school districts with $20 million through the Ministry of Education and Child Care to help create and operate programs over the next three years.
Another investment totalling $2 million from the Ministry of Education and Child Care will help cover start up costs for successful minor capital projects. This investment will help alleviate barriers that school districts and operators have faced when creating spaces on school grounds, such as staff training and purchasing equipment and toys.
“BCCPAC welcomes continued efforts to expand accessible, affordable and inclusive child care, and we encourage continued investment that keeps the experiences and evolving needs of families at the centre of planning and decision-making.” said Ha.
The province invested another $2.9 million that will help school districts create more board-operated school-age care programs on school grounds. Over the next two years the funding will help create these new spaces by supporting startup costs, early operating expenses, and minor capital improvements associated with the programs. Applications for this funding will open in fall 2026.
Families participating in the programs created by these funding initiatives could save up to $320 per child each month through B.C.’s Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. The initiative offers affordable child care fees for families with children in school-age care.
Additional assistance may be available through the Affordable Child Care Benefit for eligible families.
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