New child care spaces, training centre open in North Vancouver

Capilano University will open the Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies, which will create 74 new child care spaces, raising the total to 143. This initiative aims to enhance access to affordable child care while training 20 additional early childhood educators, increasing practicum placements to 48. Minister Bowinn Ma highlighted the essential role of quality child care in promoting education and economic growth. The project, costing $25 million, secured over $11 million from the Province and more than $8 million from Capilano University. Since 2018, ChildCareBC has funded the creation of over 40,000 licensed child care spaces, with more than 23,000 operational.

Children will begin attending the centre in June 2025, and ECE classes will start in the new facility in fall 2025. This development reflects the government's commitment to making quality child care accessible for families in British Columbia. The centre will also serve as Western Canada’s only degree-granting institution for early childhood care and education.