Photo: Contributed

Penticton city council has endorsed what it describes as a "much needed" 10-year childcare action plan, defining the needs for childcare in the city over the next decade.

City staff, thanks to a $25,000 grant received in April 2020, worked in partnership with the Social Planning and Resource Council of BC on a study identifying what the current and projected childcare situation is.

Council heard Tuesday during a presentation of their findings that there are approximately 1,000 existing childcare spaces in the city, with roughly 29 spaces per 100 children.

For children under three, that number drops to 15 spaces per 100 kids, far below the provincial average.

Staff identified priorities moving forward, including increasing access, quality and affordability of childcare spaces, and seeking community partnerships . They also recommended making childcare centres easier to open in the city, possibly through a bylaw review.

The plan targets 722 net new childcare spaces over the next ten years, and is the result of feedback opportunities including surveys, interviews, workshops and one-to-one engagements with families, parents, childcare providers and community partners.

Staff spoke to approximately 500 individuals over the survey period, learning the following key findings:

• Of the families who took part in the survey, 83 per cent indicated that it’s hard to find childcare in Penticton;
• 81 per cent of the participating childcare centres indicated they have a waitlist of at least six months; and
• Businesses indicated that the lack of childcare is hampering their growth and ability to recruit and retain new employees.

The goals and findings included in the plan will provide a framework for the city moving forward, especially as they seek partnerships and funding options.

“Having this action plan will make us more competitive for capital grants,” city social development specialist Adam Goodwin said.

Council voted to endorse the plan.

“I’d like to thank everyone who participated their ideas and time to make this action plan possible”, said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki.

“We still have a way to go as a community before the challenges that parents face around childcare are successfully solved, but thanks to the development of this plan and the actions it sets out for the City and its partners to complete, I hope to start seeing progress very soon in terms of more available space and more affordability.”

At the same meeting, council voted to send a proposed new childcare centre at 490 Edmonton Avenue to public hearing on Feb. 1, 2021.