YMCA selected as operator of the new Margaret “Ma” Murray childcare facility
FORT ST. JOHN – School District 60 (Peace River North) is pleased to announce that the YMCA of Northern British Columbia will be the operator of Fort St. John’s newest childcare centre.
The facility, scheduled to open this summer in the new Margaret “Ma” Murray Community School, will provide 12 childcare spaces for infants and toddlers, and 25 spaces for children ages three to five years old.
“School District 60 is pleased to partner with the YMCA of Northern BC to bring much needed daycare facilities to Fort St John,” said Erin Evans, board chair, School District 60. “The YMCA has an exemplary record for providing outstanding childcare experience for over 40 years in Northern B.C. and we look forward to our partnership in providing services to children and families”
Based in Prince George, this is the YMCA of Northern B.C.’s first presence in Fort St. John. In 2016, YMCA facilities cared for more than 550 children in ten daycares across northern B.C.
“We are excited to be working with School District 60 to foster positive early learning outcomes for children in Fort St. John,” said Amanda Alexander, chief executive officer of the YMCA of Northern British Columbia. “The YMCA has a strong commitment to ensuring all children receive quality childcare that supports early learning and families being able to live and work in the communities that they choose to reside in.”
Information on how to register for childcare spaces will be available in May. The school district anticipates the facility will open at full capacity in August.
BC Hydro contributed $1.8 million to School District 60 to build the childcare centre as part of the new Margaret “Ma” Murray Community School. The commitment to new childcare spaces is included in the Site C project’s Community Measures Agreement between BC Hydro and the City of Fort St. John. In addition to BC Hydro’s investment, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is contributing $500,000 to support the creation of these 37 new childcare spaces through its Child Care Major Capital Funding program.
