Kamloops families have a reason to celebrate as 52 new licensed child care spaces officially open at the newly rebuilt Parkcrest Elementary School, bringing much-needed support to a city that has long faced a shortage in early learning and child care.

The new YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre, made possible by a $2 million investment from the Province’s ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, offers care for a range of age groups:

• 12 spaces for infants and toddlers (0–3 years)

• 16 spaces for children aged 30 months to school age

• 24 spaces for school-aged children, including before and after school care.

These additions build on over 1,290 licensed child care spots already created in the Kamloops region through ChildCareBC programs since 2018. “These new child care spaces at Parkcrest Elementary represent a bright start for families, early childhood educators, and the entire community,” said Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care. “They will provide families with high-quality care closer to home in a safe, familiar environment, supporting children’s learning and growth while allowing parents to focus on their goals.”

Rebuilding Parkcrest With a Vision for the Future

The new child care centre is embedded in a much larger community story. Parkcrest Elementary was tragically destroyed by fire in 2019, prompting a complete rebuild of the school. That process became an opportunity for the Kamloops-Thompson School District to integrate child care directly into the design. “Back in 2019, when we were looking at the rebuilding of Parkcrest, it really became clear that we needed to address the broader child care crisis in our city,” said Heather Grieve, Board Chair of School District No. 73. “The new build gave us the chance to meet the community’s urgent need for infant and toddler care, preschool, and before-and-after school programs.”

The new Parkcrest Elementary officially reopened its doors to students in September 2024, following a $34.84 million provincial investment, plus additional funding from the Kamloops-Thompson School District ($300,000) and the City of Kamloops ($2.5 million), which helped fund a larger, air-conditioned gymnasium and expanded facilities.

The centre is built within the school’s interior, a deliberate choice that contrasts with other child care locations, like the one at Ralph Bell Elementary, where child care facilities are housed in separate external buildings. “We were intentional about building these child care spaces right into the school,” said Grieve. “It’s a modern, expanded facility that’s wheelchair accessible, features a new gym, and serves as a neighbourhood learning centre for both child care and community use.”

A Community-Wide Effort

The centre was developed through a partnership between the Kamloops-Thompson School District and YMCA BC, who will operate the facility. YMCA BC began accepting waitlist applications months before the centre’s official opening due to high demand. “Our understanding is that there’s no strict geographic restriction,” said Grieve. “Families typically apply based on what’s close to their work or school. Employees of Parkcrest would go through the same application process as anyone else.”

In total, 18 out of the district’s 35 elementary schools currently offer some form of early learning or child care, including StrongStart, preschool, and before-and-after school programs—and the district continues to seek opportunities to expand these offerings. “We’ve also partnered with organizations like Inquiring Little Minds at other sites, such as Ralph Bell, and we’re committed to exploring future child care partnerships,” added Grieve. “With continued government support, like the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, we’re always looking at how to optimize our ability to meet growing demand.”

Parent and Community Response

Local parent Chelsea Scott praised the new facility, calling it “a supportive, nurturing environment with great teachers.” She emphasized the positive impact it has had on her son’s development, noting the seamless integration of learning and care. “This is an exciting day for child care in Kamloops,” Grieve concluded. “This centre at Parkcrest shows how tragedy can be transformed into opportunity when we work together—with the province, the city, and dedicated community partners—to build something better for our kids.”

Since launching in 2018, ChildCareBC has funded more than 41,500 new licensed child care spaces across British Columbia, with over 26,200 now open, continuing to expand affordable, high-quality child care options for families across the province.