More families in Kimberley and Marysville will have access to affordable, quality child care with 148 new child care spaces opening in March at the Rocky Mountain Childcare facility located at Marysville Elementary School.
“This new facility represents an incredible achievement for Marysville and the surrounding community, providing local families with greater access to high-quality child care,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO of Columbia Basin Trust. “We are proud to have partnered with Rocky Mountain School District, Summit Community Services Society, the City of Kimberley and the Province to make this project a reality. Supporting projects like this not only helps families thrive, but also strengthens the foundation of our communities across the basin.”
The new spaces at the Rocky Mountain Childcare will help address child care needs for local families and child care on school grounds makes life easier for families by requiring only one drop-off and pickup location, streamlining their daily routines, reducing stress and creating a smoother transition for children.
“This project certainly represents an example of what can be accomplished through exemplary community collaboration,” said Aaron Callaghan, superintendent, Rocky Mountain School District No.6. “Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved in this undertaking, including the City of Kimberley and Columbia Basin Trust. We are especially grateful to our partner, Summit Community Services Society, whose expertise and dedication will now bring this facility to life, providing essential child care services for families in Kimberley.”
In 2022, School District No. 6, in partnership with Summit Community Services Society and Columbia Basin Trust (Trust), made an application to the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund to support construction of a new childcare facility. The construction of the new centre is the result of federal, provincial, municipal, community and regional funders including the Trust.
Since 2017, Columbia Basin Trust has helped create over 1,400 new child care spaces and improve more than 3,600 existing ones. The Trust also supports the Early Childhood Educator workforce through wage subsidy and training wage programs. In partnership with the Kootenay Kids Society, child care providers can access advice on business challenges through a dedicated child care advisor. Learn more about how the Trust is supporting child care in the Basin at ourtrust.org/childcare.
