Stroller brigade marches on

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Families, childcare providers, grandparents and children will be strolling through the city on Oct. 5 to advocate for quality childcare in the Okanagan as the federal election fast approaches.

The Kelowna Stroller Brigade March taking place on Oct. 5 is being organized by Childhood Connections (formerly Kelowna Child Care Society) in collaboration with the local Early Childhood Educations of BC branch and Starbright Child Development Centre. 

Marches will be held all across the province, including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Campbell River, Burnaby, Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond. 

Organizers hope the march will ensure the $10aDay Plan is adhered to by those elected on Oct. 21, protecting the $50 million B.C. that is currently received per annum for childcare. Childcare funding is managed by each province but a portion of it comes from federal government. 

Executive director of Childhood Connections Melissa Hunt says the quality of a child's earliest years is critical to their lifelong success.

“This is not just about childcare - it’s about empowering families and supporting the economic success of our community by supporting working parents with affordable, quality childcare. Childcare and early years development and education should be an important priority for all the candidates running in this federal election because these are the formative years that will set our children up for success in the future if they have the right support now – it’s about being proactive rather than reactive.”

The Kelowna event begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. Attendees are welcome with or without strollers and encouraged to bring signs and noisemakers to draw attention to the cause.