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Getting more childcare spaces in Delta

A proposed new potential daycare space in Ladner moved a step closer to reality last week.
delta childcare
According to Delta civic staff, the city can help achieve the goal of creating more childcare spaces through partnerships with the Delta School District, developers and childcare providers, and identifying projects that would qualify for provincial grant funding that is currently available for the creation of new childcare facilities.

A proposed new potential daycare space in Ladner moved a step closer to reality last week.

Following a public hearing, council voted unanimously to grant third reading for a zoning change to allow a childcare facility that would be located at Captain’s Cove Marina at 5519 Admiral Way, accommodating up to 100 children.

Still needing final council approval, the facility would be built in a currently vacant site located on the upland portion of a larger property that would be developed.

The location was always planned for commercial uses under the area’s master plan, but the childcare would be a new permitted use.

The proposal is to allow for the facility use within a proposed 14,112-square-foot, one-storey commercial building with one level of under-building parking containing 223 parking spaces.

The applicant during the hearing noted there has already been interest from daycare operators but it doesn’t mean a daycare will open for sure at the location, however, the zoning will be in place.

Meanwhile, the province this week announced funding for new childcare spaces in Surrey and Delta.

The majority of the over 500 are going to Surrey but South Delta Wee Clubhouse is to get 16 spaces while 40 will be at Alphabetz Daycare.

The new spaces come as part of the provincial government’s Childcare B.C. plan, which has included the creation of 378 new child care spaces in Delta to date, according to the New Democrats, adding they created nearly 16,800 new licensed spaces across the province in the past two years.

On another front, city council recently endorsed a new Delta Childcare Strategy and Action Plan, and is considering the next steps based on the findings and recommendations.

According to a staff report, 80 per cent of respondents to a local survey reported that there is an inadequate supply of childcare services in Delta.

In particular, there is a need for before and after school care, infant and toddler care, flexible hours for parents as well as space for operators to build new facilities.

This is consistent with many other communities across B.C. where childcare has been described as being in a "crisis state", according to the report.

The Delta strategy includes 24 recommendations including working towards a goal of adding 1,051 new childcare spaces over 10 years to reach the Canadian average ratio of 27.2 spaces per 100 children, as well as maintaining a dedicated partnership with the Delta School District to explore the option of co-locating childcare programs in elementary schools.

The government is helping municipalities to achieve childcare targets by providing capital funding to support the creation of 22,000 childcare spaces over the next three years, the report notes, adding that earlier this year 85 new childcare spaces have opened up in Ladner and Tsawwassen with provincial funding assistance.