More affordable daycare spaces are coming to Chilliwack.
A total of 53 $10-a-day child-care spots were announced by the province on Thursday (March 28), bringing the total to 90 for Chilliwack.
Fraser River CEC Child Care Centre will have 46 $10-a-day spaces, and there will be seven spots at Growing Naturally, an in-home, multi-age daycare centre.
The new affordable spaces in Chilliwack were some of the more than 930 across the province announced that day, which move into the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program in March and April.
B.C. now has more than 15,000 $10-a-day daycare spaces.
“The families of over 15,000 children throughout B.C. have more money in their pockets as their child-care bills are cut by more than $10,000 on average per child, per year,” said Mitzi Dean, B.C.’s Minister of State for Child Care. “In addition to the $10-a-day program, we have increased the fee reductions, are eliminating waitlist fees and continue to offer additional support for families who need it most, all of which are important ways we are making life more affordable.”
Chilliwack first saw these affordable daycare spaces back in 2018 when Elm Drive YMCA Child Care was one of 53 prototype facilities chosen across B.C. for the program. There are 37 $10-a-day spots at Elm Drive.
READ MORE: Parents at Chilliwack child care facility to pay just $200 per month
The breakdown for the two newly added daycares in Chilliwack is: eight spaces (under 36 months), 14 spaces (age three to five years), and 24 spaces (school-age) at Fraser River CEC Child Care Centre; and seven multi-age spaces at Growing Naturally.
“Affordable, $10-a-day child care that’ll help families save thousands of dollars, help parents balance work with family and help kids get the best start to life. That’s what today’s announcement with B.C. is all about,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Together, we’re making sure families across the province get the quality child care they need without worrying about the cost.”
Spaces in the program reduce the average cost of child care from $1,120 a month for full-time, centre-based care to $200 a month for the same service, saving families an average of approximately $920 a month per child.
With these newly converted spaces offered at 27 additional child care centres throughout the province, B.C. has more than 15,300 spaces, surpassing its goal of 15,000 spaces and on track to achieve the next goal of 20,000 spaces by spring 2026.
For a full list of $10-a-day daycare centres, go to www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/running-daycare-preschool/10-a-day-childcarebc-centres/10-a-day-centres-list.