More families in Central Saanich have access to child care thanks to efforts from local public and private organizations.
Since Central Saanich’s Child Care Action Plan was adopted in 2020, the District of Central Saanich has worked to ensure childcare spaces are retained and expanded through development opportunities, as well as by converting a park caretaker property to a childcare facility. Access to buildings or land suitable for child care facilities was one of the identified barriers to creating new spaces.
Recently opened child care centres include Just Peachy’s ‘The Cottage’ Centennial Park location, which provides 17 toddler care in the municipality’s converted caretaker’s residence; Kidspace Learning Centres retained 25 existing spaces for young children and added 12 spaces for toddlers during the redevelopment of the former Moose Hall on East Saanich; the Saanich School District’s ŚEŚIŚEJ Childcare Centre, operated by Beacon Community Services, opened in 2024 and serves up to 84 children. In addition, the District of Central Saanich recently supported two daycares currently under development; one is to be located at the Saanich Fairgrounds and the other is at 1183 Verdier, where the Capital Region Housing Corporation’s proposed development includes 2,000 square foot daycare for up to 16 children, funding permitted.
Approximately 20% or 1,500 households in Central Saanich have children under the age of 14 and the District was found to have 17 licenced spaces for every 100 children 12 years old and younger. In 2020, an estimated 1,000 children needed space with the largest need being for school age children and only 45% of the estimated spaces required for ages three to five years old being available.
In 2020, six municipal partners—Central Saanich, Highlands, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich and Sidney—worked together to develop a childcare inventory, gap analysis, and develop local action plans, funded by the Government of BC through the Union of BC Municipalities.
The opening of these child care centres is expected to provide families with more options for child care, reducing waiting lists and allowing parents to pursue employment or education opportunities with peace of mind, as well as create more local job opportunities for early childhood educators. Increasing childcare availability can help create a more equitable society.