Tla'amin Nation families will soon have access to 151 new licensed child care spaces, according to a media release from BC Ministry of Children and Family Development on December 19. The announcement is part of the province’s commitment to increasing child care through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Childcare BC New Spaces Fund is supporting Tla'amin to create two new child-care centres, both of which are expected to open in December 2021, according to the release. Tla'amin Child Development Resource Centre will offer 75 spaces, including 24 infant/toddler spaces, 17 spaces for children aged three to five years, four preschool spaces and 30 spaces for children up to the age of 12. These are in addition to 72 spaces the centre currently offers. The fieldhouse will offer 76 spaces for children up to the age of 12.
"Access to culturally safe child care is important for ensuring that children can grow up immersed in their culture, language and traditions," stated Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons. "Along with language and traditional plant and medicine programming, the two new centres in the Tla'amin Nation will offer a meal program to support children and families."
