The Little Scholars child care centre which qualified for the B.C. government鈥檚 childcare prototype project is already seeing the positive results of the $10-a-day program.

Danielle Miranda, the general manager of childcare at YMCA Okanagan which runs the low-cost program, says families are already feeling the benefits.

鈥淭he families that were already involved with Little Scholars were overwhelmed by the news,鈥� said Miranda. 鈥淐hildcare is the second most expensive family cost annually, after mortgages, and families have already told me how this is helping them with savings, setting up RRSPs, and being able to worry less about being able to afford groceries and other family necessities.鈥�

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Little Scholars is one of 53 B.C. childcare facilities and the only one in the Okanagan thus far that was approved for the pilot program. This project is funded through a $60-million investment as part of the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement with the Government of Canada. It complements the province鈥檚 $1-billion three-year investment through Childcare BC to move toward its long-term vision of affordable, accessible and quality childcare for any family that needs it.

鈥淲e committed to introduce affordable, accessible and quality child care for B.C. parents,鈥� said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. 鈥淭his project is a step toward fulfilling our goal to bring universal childcare to B.C. and we鈥檙e excited to be working with organizations like the YMCA to make life better for families.鈥�

When it comes down to providing for the community, Miranda said the YMCA knew they needed to apply for the government program, which also caps costs to no more than $200 a month.

鈥淲e wanted to be a part of this program to help Okanagan families, as well as B.C. families. Part of this contract with the government means that we send in all sorts of information back to B.C. so they will have information from all the child care facilities in the province from the YMCA to the private facilities. We鈥檙e hoping all this information will continue to help families, and possibly lead to more options for low-cost child care.鈥�

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Little Scholars, which is located at Okanagan College, is currently full, as childcare facilities in B.C. usually are, but there is a waiting list. Call 250-491-8678 for details. The YMCA is also in the midst of opening another childcare centre in Pentiction for March.

鈥淭he costs of child care shouldn鈥檛 matter when it comes to choosing a reliable licensed child care provider,鈥� said Miranda. 鈥淔amilies should not have to sacrifice options because of their financial situation. This pilot project means families can afford quality childcare. We鈥檙e hopeful and confident that this program will continue.鈥�

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