Kamloops child care plan aims to address shortage of licensed spaces

KAMLOOPS — A new City of Kamloops Child Care Action Plan confirms the city is falling short of the required numbers of child care spaces.

Natasha Hartson, the city’s social, housing and community development manager, said access to child care remains a challenge for many families.

"The child care plan really is to help us, help other people set up child care," Hartson said.

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A survey of 38 licensed providers and 291 parents and caregivers found there were 30 licensed full-day spaces for every 100 children. That is well short of the federal benchmark of 59 spaces per 100 children.

Hartson noted that number doesn’t tell the entire story.

"In certain age categories, we have more than the recommended benchmark, which would be that 30-month-to-5-year-old range," Hartson said. "However, we still see quite low numbers in that really younger infant care as well as school-aged children, who need a couple hours of after-school care."

Families of children with developmental, behavioural or medical needs often face additional barriers in accessing appropriate care, Hartson said.

The report also noted a higher concentration of child care spaces downtown, in North Kamloops and in the Lower Sahali/Southgate corridor. Many primarily residential neighbourhoods had comparatively few licensed spaces available.

"This pattern is influenced, in part, by the availability of commercially zoned land and locations suitable for larger child care facilities," the report read.

Hartson said this plan will give city staff and council a list of achievable goals like where child care facilities are built, recognizing child care as essential community infrastructure, and better supports for providers.

"It’s really not our role to deliver child care," Hartson said. "It’s either private business or (upper levels of) government that’s going to create those spaces, but we do play a role in helping to make sure we are the most set up so child care facilities can be established, operated and expanded."

Chelsey Mack, the board chair of the Early Learning Society of Kamloops, told CFJC Today she’s pleased to see the city’s ongoing efforts to try to address gaps in child care.

"[The city has] keyed in on areas where municipalities can make a meaningful difference," Mack said. "Whether it’s through zoning regulations or the OCP or possible tax relief, those sorts of things that can make it a good operating environment for child care providers."

Mack also pointed out the economic benefits of investing in child care, noting it’s often women who are disproportionately affected by the lack of available spaces.

"I know moms who’ve not been able to go back to work because they can’t find child care or who’ve left the workforce because they can’t get before and after-school care once their children start kindergarten," Mack noted.

Hartson said while city staff will review their efforts in three years, there will be yearly updates provided to council and the community.

"We’re just trying to make ourselves as child care friendly as possible," Hartson said. "Staff now, with the endorsement of this plan, can move forward with beginning to look at some of our bylaws and our zoning and some of the recommendations we put in the plan."

With files from CFJC Today Kamloops