New child care centre coming for Fernie families

Fernie Elementary School will receive 37 new licensed child care spaces funded by nearly $8 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, enhancing local family support. Parliamentary Secretary for Child Care Rohini Arora stated that this initiative meets the needs of families and contributes to economic resilience. The new facility will offer 12 spaces for infants and toddlers and 25 spaces for children aged three to five. Parents can expect affordable fees through ChildCareBC’s fee-reduction program, allowing savings of up to $900 per child monthly. Since 2018, ChildCareBC has funded the creation of over 42,200 new licensed child care spaces across British Columbia, with more than 27,700 currently operational.

This expansion is part of the province's broader ChildCareBC plan to provide quality and inclusive child care for families. The federal government and British Columbia recently extended their early learning and child care agreement through 2030. These developments support community growth and empower parents to pursue their professional goals.