Child-care providers across the Basin are getting a boost from Columbia Basin Trust to increase access to child-care and make improvements to their facilities by expanding the number of spaces, strengthening their workforce and making their buildings more energy efficient.

“Everyday, child-care providers and early childhood educators help families care for their children and create early learning environments that are essential for healthy development,” said Nicole MacLellan, Delivery of Benefits Manager with Columbia Basin Trust. “Having access to quality and affordable care enables parents to work, supports businesses to retain employees, and helps our communities thrive, all of which we heard are important to Basin residents.”

The Trust offers a variety of supports to help child-care providers create and maintain accessible and affordable spaces in the Basin, and recruit and retain qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs).

The Trust is providing $2.4 million to:

• help create 143 new child care spaces;
• improve the energy efficiency of 347 existing spaces;
• enhance the wages of 234 ECEs;
• provide a training wage to 50 ECEs and ECE Assistants to complete or upgrade their qualifications.

Here are a few recent projects. To learn more, visit ourtrust.org/childcare.

Targeting energy efficiency in Cranbrook

In Cranbrook, Summit Community Services is improving the energy efficiency of the 32-space Little Summit Daycare. Improvements include replacing the front door and windows, installing an energy recovery ventilator, LED lighting, occupancy sensors and solar panels.

“We are excited to be going forward with the renovations for energy improvements over the coming months,” said Tara Long, Manager. “The improvements will make the building more energy efficient, lower our operating costs, and provide more comfort for the children.”

Aiming for lower energy consumption in Creston

In Creston, the Kootenai Community Centre Society is improving the energy efficiency and consumption of the 25-space Teddy Bear Daycare. Activities include upgrading the attic insulation, replacing windows, installing LED lighting, adding a high efficiency heat pump, and installing occupancy sensors.

“The increased efficiency also means lower costs for the organization, which relies solely on parent fees and small grants to operate. We are so grateful for these much-needed improvements,” said Rebecca Gidney, Executive Director. “These upgrades will also promote an updated, more comfortable, improved environment for the children in our care.”

Adding spaces in Fruitvale

With funding from both the Trust and the Province of BC, the Village of Fruitvale is building the Beaver Valley Child Care Centre in the heart of the community. The Trust also provided support during the development stages of this project. The new centre will add 37 child-care spaces and help meet the critical need for child care in Fruitvale and the area. The centre, which will be operated by the Beaver Valley Nursery School, is expected to open in the summer 2023.

“The Beaver Valley Child Care Centre aims to assist all families—including the parents of children requiring extra support, Indigenous residents, vulnerable populations, newcomers to Canada and young parents—so that they can attend work and school and do other important tasks,” said Kelli Tuttle, the Village’s Chief Administrative Officer. “It will seek to develop self-confidence and self-esteem in the children, and social and emotional skills that lead to future success.”

Supporting staff in Revelstoke

The Revelstoke Child Care Society operates the 52-space Stepping Stones Child Care Centre and 37-space Corner Stones Child Care Centre. Thirteen of its ECEs are receiving a wage enhancement through the Trust’s ECE Wage Subsidy program, while eight of the educators are accessing the ECE Training Wage Program to help them upgrade their skills.

“Recognizing the essential role of early childhood educators is key to attracting and retaining engaged individuals into this profession and maintaining the number of spaces available in our community,” said Linda Chell, Executive Director.

Tracy Spannier, Associate Executive Director, added: “For families and children, retention of excellent educators is imperative, as educators build relationships with children in their care and stability is a key factor in quality care. Plus, reliable, quality, accessible and affordable child care supports a healthy workforce for local businesses.”

Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1-800-505-8998.

Lead image: Cranbrook’s Little Summit Daycare is improving energy efficiency and consumption with Trust support. Columbia Basin Trust photos

Columbia Basin Trust

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