The Town of Creston will be investigating its zoning bylaws in the new year to potentially promote the development of more childcare facilities in the area.
During the December 17 council meeting, councillors were presented with a delegation from Creston’s Kootenay Community Centre Society, which emphasized the town’s critical childcare deficit.
The Kootenay Community Centre Society runs two childcare programs in the Creston Valley: Teddy Bear Day Care, which accommodates children aged 30 months to kindergarten, and Grizzly Bear Out of School Care. Both are located on Cook Street.
Grizzly Bear Out of School Care is the only licensed out-of-school care program in the Creston area. Children are bussed from Adam Robertson Elementary, Erickson Elementary, Canyon Lister Elementary, and Yaqan Nukiy School.
Executive Director Stephannie Dunn told councillors that the Kootenay region has the lowest number of childcare spaces in the entire province, with a total of 4,000 spaces.
Furthermore, Dunn says there is a significant gap when comparing the number of government-supported childcare spaces in the region to the number of children aged 12 and under.
She says B.C.’s 2023 population statistics estimate there are around 22,000 children aged 12 and under in the region. As a result, only 20 per cent of children who may need childcare have access to government-supported spaces.
Dunn says that while the provincial government’s Childcare Operating Fund has helped parents and families in B.C., the model has left many childcare facilities with little to no additional operating funds.
The Grizzly Bear program runs at a profit of $6,000 a year, and while KCCS is a not-for-profit, she says the number is not sustainable.
“This is not sustainable, and KCCS takes advantage of as many granting opportunities as possible, such as the Town of Creston’s discretionary grant and the B.C. gaming grants, to help with the sustainability of this crucial community program. We’ve engaged with many other childcare organizations throughout the region regarding the province’s funding models for licensed childcare facilities, and we are hoping to bring our concerns forward to government bodies that are responsible for these funding streams.”
KCCS does receive about $3,000 a month from the province through the B.C. Childcare Operating Fund. However, it was not able to take advantage of the provincial Child Care Parent Fee Reduction Initiative because rates would have to be lowered to $10 a day, which Dunn says could shut the programs down.
Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon says the town is going to investigate amending its zoning bylaws in the new year to allow for more childcare in all zones as a primary use.
“Increasing daycare is something that we really want to encourage. And so, we will be looking in the new year so that we can encourage those who want to do it as a private business; there will be fewer obstacles in their way.”
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