Fanny Bay will be getting another 36 childcare spots at a daycare and school thanks to more funding from ChildCareBC.
According to the Beachcombers Education Society, the Little Oysters Child Care Centre was given just over $2 million. It is being provided by provincial investments and federal funding, which means there will be a total of 52 childcare spots.
The non-profit will also add capacity for 16 group multi-age care spots. Manager Kathy Fredrikson says it has come along at a time when childcare is very difficult for many families.
“In recent years, we have had parents in tears when there wasn’t a spot available for their child,” said Fredrikson. “We operate a nature-inspired enriched pre-kindergarten program that is very popular.”
The facility also operates a kindergarten to grade 7 school. Beachcombers Education Society president Zoe Lambert adds that working with the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative has also let them decrease the costs.
“We have been able to recue fees to parents by 30 per cent in the past two years,” said Lambert. “This has been a huge help to parents. We are already seeing a real benefit to children and families as a result of this government initiative.”
Little Oysters Child Care is now accepting registration. Fredrikson says they only have a few spots in the current childcare spaces, but they will be able to accommodate more when the expansion is complete.
The expansion is expected to be mostly done by summer, but not completely done until September 2025.
