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How the City of Kelowna is Making More Room for Childcare Spaces | BoostBC
- Paige H.
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
How the City of Kelowna is Making More Room for Childcare Spaces | BoostBC
Childcare is not easy to find, and waitlists in Kelowna are long, making it hard for entrepreneurs with families to get by. Trying to run your business is next to impossible when you don't have reliable care for your little ones. The City of Kelowna is taking that into account with their 2027-2028 growth plan.
The ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund initiative is working across BC to provide 40,000 new, high-quality childcare spots, and Kelowna successfully received 3 grants totaling $25.1 million. Now that the funding has been confirmed, the city plans to build 10,000 square feet of dedicated childcare space within three new facilities. This is part of a plan to build a stronger Kelowna, and are slated to open in 2027, providing 273 new childcare spaces. Though this will not make up for the lack of spots available, it will be a step in the right direction, allowing for more families to access childcare services. Kelowna is an ever growing community, and this is an issue that will need a long term solution.
YLW recently received 86 new childcare spaces, and it has made a huge impact on the employees working there. "The addition of the Kelowna Airport YMCA Child Care Centre has provided ease of access to quality care for my three children, enabling me to continue my career in aviation," said Bryana, an employee of KF Aerospace.
Why is accessable childcare so important for the local business owner?
Workforce stability
Employee retention
Reduced absenteeism
Supports local economic growth
Improved productivity
Strengthens communities
Helps women stay in business
The list goes on and is why Kelowna needs to increase the access to childcare for residents. A workforce free of worrying about childcare is one that functions smoothly, efficiently and with far less stress. We all deserve a chance to work and
grow within the community, and accessible childcare brings us closer to that goal.
While The ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund initiative is a step in the right direction, hopefully this is only the beginning of a BC and an Okanagan that supports families with the accessible and affordable childcare they need. Continuing to prioritize childcare will build a stronger, happier and more resilient community.
