The City of Kamloops is asking parents, caregivers, and child care providers to help shape the future of child care in the community by participating in a new survey launched as part of its updated Child Care Action Plan.

Child care access continues to be a significant challenge in Kamloops, affecting working families, child development, and the broader economy. In response, the City is developing a renewed strategy that focuses on improving accessibility, affordability, inclusivity, and quality of care for children aged 12 and under.

The new plan builds on work first undertaken in 2019 through the Community Child Care Planning Program, but City officials say the landscape has changed dramatically since then. “We did undertake some planning in 2019,” said Natasha Hartson, the City’s Social Housing and Community Development Manager. “And so the thought was—it’s time to update. There’s been a lot of changes in our economy and our world since then.”

While the province is primarily responsible for funding and regulating child care, municipalities play a key supporting role. Hartson explained that the City’s influence falls into three main areas: local planning and policies, community coordination, and advocacy. “We ourselves as an organization have the ability to make changes—through planning or zoning policies—that may impact someone’s ability to start a child care facility, for example,” Hartson said.

“We also coordinate local partners—we’re on the ground in a way the province isn’t. And thirdly, we advocate. We want to understand what challenges parents and operators are facing so we can inform Council and help advocate for provincial or federal support.”

📋 Two Surveys, One Goal: Better Child Care

As part of the public engagement process, the City has launched two short surveys—one for parents and caregivers, and one for child care providers. The surveys will remain open until October 13, 2025, and are available online at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/ChildCare. Paper surveys are also available at City Hall. “Parents and caregivers should absolutely participate,” said Hartson. “But it’s equally important that providers weigh in—they understand the business side of child care. Both perspectives are critical to making a realistic and effective plan.”

In addition to the surveys, the City’s Social and Community Development team will host targeted engagement sessions later this fall with child care operators, early childhood educators, and support agencies. These sessions will help interpret the survey data and ensure the final plan reflects a wide range of experiences and needs.

🛠️ What Will the Action Plan Do?

The Child Care Action Plan aims to:

• Clarify the City’s role in supporting child care;
• Identify opportunities for community collaboration and coordination;
• Highlight areas for advocacy at the provincial and federal levels;
• Outline concrete actions the City can take within its jurisdiction.

“We need a robust child care system to support our economy,” Hartson noted. “Access to child care isn’t just a family issue—it impacts employers, workforce availability, and the overall resilience of the community.”

⏳ What’s Next?

Following the October 13 survey deadline, the City will analyze the results and conduct additional consultations before drafting the plan. According to Hartson, the City hopes to present the finalized action plan to City Council in spring 2026. “It does take time to go through the results, develop meaningful actions, and bring those back to all involved parties,” she said. “But the goal is to have something back to Council in the spring.”