Columbia Basin Trust is giving a boost to child care providers across the Basin by offering support to help create new care spaces, maintain accessible and affordable spaces, and recruit and retain qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs).
The Trust will support care staff in Revelstoke by strengthening the workforce through their ECE Wage Subsidy program. The Trust is providing $2.4 million to child care programs in the Basin’s communities. Part of those funds will help enhance the wages of 234 ECEs and give a training wage to 50 ECEs and ECE Assistants to complete or upgrade their qualifications.
“Recognizing the essential role of early childhood educators is key to attracting and retaining engaged individuals into this profession and maintaining the number of spaces available in our community,” said Linda Chell, Executive Director.
The Revelstoke Child Care Society operates the Stepping Stone Child Care Centre, a 52-space facility, and the Corner Stones Child Care Centre, with 37 spaces. Thirteen of the Society’s ECEs are receiving wage enhancement through the subsidy program, says the Trust in a news release. Additionally, eight of the educators are accessing the ECE Training Wage Program to help them upgrade their skills.
Tracy Spannier, Associate Executive Director, added: “For families and children, retention of excellent educators is imperative, as educators build relationships with children in their care and stability is a key factor in quality care. Plus, reliable, quality, accessible and affordable child care supports a healthy workforce for local businesses.”
The funding from the Trust will also help create 143 new child care spaces. In a recent project, funding from the Trust and Province of BC helped build the Beaver Valley Child Care Centre in the Village of Fruitvale, adding 37 child care spaces helping to meet critical demand in the community.
Further, the Columbia Basin Trust’s funding will improve the energy efficiency of 347 existing spaces. For example, recent projects in Cranbrook and Creston include upgrades and renovations that target energy efficiency and lower energy consumption.
“Everyday, child care providers and early childhood educators help families care for their children and create early learning environments that are essential for healthy development,” said Nicole MacLellan, Delivery of Benefits Manager with Columbia Basin Trust. “Having access to quality and affordable care enables parents to work, supports businesses to retain employees, and helps our communities thrive, all of which we heard are important to Basin residents.” To learn more, visit ourtrust.org/childcaresupport.