Have concerns or issues about childcare? If so, the city of Coquitlam wants to hear from you.
Parents and caregivers are invited to share their child-care needs and ideas at one of two information sessions on Thursday, Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m. at the City Centre Aquatic Complex, 1210 Pinetree Way and Saturday, Oct. 26, 1-3 p.m at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, 633 Poirier St.
Community input gathered in-person during the information sessions, as well as responses to an online survey available until Friday, Nov. 1, will help inform Coquitlam’s Child Care Strategy.
Both sessions are drop-in style and offer free childminding. Parents and caregivers of infants to school-aged children, as well as parents-to-be, are welcome to attend.
Those unable to attend the in-person sessions or wishing to provide input at their convenience, are invited to answer the online survey to share their child-care needs and challenges, and to provide input on potential options.
The survey is available at www.coquitlam.ca/childcare until Friday, Nov. 1.
Coquitlam received a $25,000 grant this past spring from the provincial Community Child Care Planning Program through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to create a Child Care Strategy.
The communities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody have collaborated on the project since many Tri-Cities residents cross boundaries to access child care, school and other services.
Development of the Child Care Strategy also includes:
• An inventory of existing child-care spaces, service levels and types of programs in different neighbourhoods;
• Identification of short-, medium- and long-term targets for new spaces;
• A survey and site visits to child-care operators to collect input on expanding facilities and service levels to meet the community’s child-care needs; and
• Consultation with additional stakeholders, including Fraser Health, School District 43 and organizations that serve local families.
Coquitlam’s draft plan will be presented to council in early 2020.
