The City of Kamloops and YMCA BC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to celebrate the official opening of the new YMCA Station Plaza Care and Learning Centre. The child care facility, which began operations on April 1, adds 32 licensed spaces—12 for infants and toddlers and 20 for children aged 3 to 5—helping to address the city’s pressing need for accessible child care.

“This has been a vision for quite some time, so we’re really excited that it’s come together,” said Natasha Hartson, the City’s Social, Housing, and Community Development Manager. “There’s still a lot more that’s needed, but this is a great opportunity for us to help alleviate some of those pressures in the community.”

The centre is not exclusive to City employees, though they receive priority access. Currently, about 40% of the available spaces are occupied by City staff, with the remaining spots open to the broader community. City officials hope the model will not only support working parents but also enhance staff recruitment and retention.

Kamloops continues to experience a significant shortfall in licensed child care. In late 2023, the city reported just 29 licensed spaces per 100 children under the age of 12. That leaves as many as 70% of children without access to licensed care, according to Hartson. “That doesn’t necessarily mean every child needs a space, but the lack of access is significant. And as a parent myself, I’ve experienced how challenging it is to find quality child care.”

The centre was made possible through funding from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, supported jointly by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The agreement, which runs through 2026, was recently extended to 2031.

“Affordable child care helps kids grow, gives parents opportunities, and strengthens the economy,” said Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families. “This is what the Canada-wide early learning and child care program is all about. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen for families and kids in Kamloops.”

Rohini Arora, BC’s Parliamentary Secretary for Child Care, echoed those sentiments, calling the centre “a welcome addition for Kamloops families, especially working parents, single parents, and women living and working in the city’s core.”

The YMCA, which operates over 30 licensed child care locations across Northern and Interior BC, was selected to run the facility. YMCA BC President and CEO Heidi Worthington praised the collaboration with the City, saying, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see this project come to life. We were thrilled to welcome the first children to this space and are committed to providing them with quality early learning experiences.”

Hartson emphasized the value of having a trusted partner like the YMCA. “The City is not a child care provider. We really rely on community partners to bring that expertise, and the YMCA has been incredible—very professional, very credible, and deeply experienced.”

Families interested in applying for a space at the centre can do so through the YMCA’s website. As of the opening date, some spaces remained available to the public.

Jennifer Howatt, the City’s Human Resources and Safety Manager, said the project reflects the City’s investment in its people. “It’s a proud moment. This facility will make a real difference in the daily lives of our employees and their children.”

Although the centre has already been operating for two months, Tuesday’s event marked an important milestone.

“We’re just so excited to finally cut the ribbon,” said Hartson. “It’s great to see the space activated and to know that it’s already making a difference.”