The first 85 of an estimated 275 new childcare spaces facilitated by the city have been opened at Lord Tennyson Elementary School in Kitsilano.
The school went through some recent seismic upgrades; during those upgrades, the centre was created, located on the third floor. It includes 49 full-time slots for children under 4, 16 preschool spaces and 20 spots for before and after school care (for students at the school), according to a press release from the city.
The centre is a partnership between the province, city and school board and will be run by the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, a not-for-profit that runs a variety of community programs including for children.
"This is the second childcare facility that the City has co-located with a school. This approach helps us build communities that are more walkable and family-friendly," says Mayor Kennedy Stewart in the release.
The city is putting $8.3 million into the centre, some of that coming from Community Amenity Contributions and Development Cost Levies. Those funds are collected by the city from developers as they develop properties.
Upgrades to Tennyson school wrapped up late last year.
