A Maple Ridge Daycare will be getting 110 new spaces, as part of almost 1,000 spaces that will be opening across 14 B.C. communities.
Under the Tree Family Education and Support child care centre will have 24 new spaces for infant-toddlers, 38 spaces for 30 months to kindergarten, and 48 school-aged spaces, according to a provincial government announcement on Friday, Oct. 17.
“Families throughout British Columbia are seeing new child care spaces open in their communities, giving families real options they can count on,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care, who is also the MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.
“These spaces mean shorter waitlists, more access to affordable, high-quality child care and peace of mind for parents, knowing children are learning in safe, supportive environments,” she added. “This is about making life easier for parents today, while investing in stronger communities for generations to come.”
Nearly $34 million in ChildCareBC New Spaces funding was provided to non-profit organizations, local and Indigenous governments to create these new child care spaces.
The New Spaces Fund is supported by provincial and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. B.C. and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 until 2030-31.
Families who attend these centres will also have access to the province’s fee-reduction program, which reduces the cost of child care by as much as $900 per child, per month. Families that need additional support may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which can bring the cost down to $10 a day, or in some cases, eliminate fees altogether for families that need it most.