The city and the school district are taking steps to increase the number or child-care spaces in New Westminster – but want to make sure out-of-school care isn’t forgotten.
New Westminster city council recently approved a motion to direct staff to submit an application to the province for $1 million in support of a child-care facility with 37 spaces as part of the development of the New Westminster Aquatic and Community Centre. The city will also notify the school district that it will allocate up to $1.2 million for a proposed 37-space child-care facility in the new Richard McBride Elementary School and will work with the school district on an application in support of a 37-space modular child-care facility on the grounds of Queensborough Middle School.
In addition, council has directed staff not to proceed with a child-care facility at a city-owned property at 232 Lawrence St. (because of significant development costs and other child-care proposals at Queensborough Middle School), and to explore other possible uses for the Queensborough site, including affordable housing. The city has also agreed to use the existing child-care spaces in the Queensborough Community Centre for up to 25 before-and-after-school care spaces, if the current child care program is successfully relocated to a proposed development at 490 Furness St.
“I am really happy to see that the city is working with the school district related to increasing child-care spaces. I think that’s hugely important,” said Coun. Mary Trentadue. “The question that still comes to mind for me is the lack of out-of-school care.”
Trentadue believes out-of-school care is something the city and school district need to keep plugging away at providing.
“I know that they are taking on child care at their schools, which is great but they seem to be missing or not including out-of-school care in their programming, and I am concerned and questioning why they would do that,” she said. “Out-of-school care in a school is the best place you can put it.”
John Stark, the city’s social planner, said the school district has a strong foundation for school-aged care, with nine programs operating in its facilities.
“Is it meeting the needs? No. Right now, wait times can be measured in years. Some children age out before being placed, so it is a real concern,” he said. “The school district did develop a child-care strategy. It did heavily emphasize preschool-aged care. Part of that was due to the provincial funding, which really was looking at trying to increase infant-toddler care and three-to-five care, and put those types of care arrangements in schools.”
A report to council states the school district is in discussions with the province about developing child-care facilities at Connaught Heights (25 spaces), F.W. Howay (37 spaces) and Richard McBride (37 spaces) elementary schools and Queensborough Middle School (37 spaces).
Stark said the city and school district are exploring how to develop new school-aged care programs in schools, on school grounds and at city facilities. He said one of the benefits of this type of program is that it isn’t necessarily dedicated space because it’s only used in the mornings before school and for a few hours after school.
“I would like to make sure that this really stays on the radar. It is such a huge issue for families,” Trentadue said. “Child care in itself is an issue but once you get your child into school, if you don’t have care for them – they are out at 2:48, and you are usually can’t leave work at that time. So I think it’s really important. I know the province has been pushing younger child care but I think it’s really crucial that we don’t let out-of-school care drop off, that we continue to advocate for that as well.”
Stark said the city can advocate to the province that there needs to be a balance in regards to child care and that it can’t just emphasize preschool aged care.
Coun. Chinu Das said preschool aged care is important, but the emphasis on providing that type of care arose out of a research about the early development of the brain. She said subsequent research has shown children need to be supported through out-of-school care as well.
“Anything the city can do to assist that process would be great,” Das said.
