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City-owned Childcare Facilities
Since 1990, Vancouver’s City Councils have recognized that while the Provincial government is mandated to deliver child care, the City has opportunities to aid in the creation of child care facilities in new developments. The Social Planning Department's Child Development Design Team works with the other City departments (including Facilities, Design and Management, Real Estate and Legal staff), as well as private developers and non-profit child care operators, to address the growing demand for affordable, quality child care facilities in Vancouver.
Below are a few examples of City-owned child care facilities.
Hastings Park Child Care Centre
The beautiful, new 7,000 square foot facility at Hastings Park opened on April 1, 2011. It has 44 licensed child care spaces for infants up to 5 years old. The program is operated by Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. The facility was built by Hastings Racecourse/Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and is owned by the City of Vancouver. Hastings Racecourse is providing an operating subsidy for the centre, which serves children of Hastings Racecourse employees as first priority, and children from the broader Hastings Sunrise community as second priority. The program opens early in the mornings and on weekends to provide care for the children of backstretch workers. The backstretch workers, such as horse groomer and trainers, work non-traditional hours. The facility was built to LEED standards which is a certification program for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
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| Under construction. |
The new Hastings Park Child Care Centre at 150 North Renfrew. |
Councillor Raymond Louis, Councillor Andrea Reimer, M.P. Libby Davies and Kiwassa staff cut the ribbon at the Open House on April 9, 2011. |
Enjoying the tree climber. |
View from the outdoor play area over the racetrack. |
Bayshore Gardens Children’s Centre
The newest City-owned child care centre in Vancouver celebrated its official grand opening in September 2007. The Bayshore Gardens Children’s Centre, located in the Bayshore Gardens residential towers in Coal Harbour, is a 49-space licensed child care facility operated by the Vancouver Society of Children’s Centres. The program will provide 12 infant, 12 toddler and 25 much needed spaces for 3 to 5 year olds in Vancouver. The centre was built and furnished by the site owner as a condition of rezoning the Bayshore Lands for residential development. This new facility includes 5,200 sq. ft. of indoor space, 5,600 sq. ft. of outdoor play space.
Enjoying the new facilities at
Bayshore!
Shannon Daycare
Shannon Daycare in Marpole was one of the first amenity bonus spaces secured by Vancouver City Council in the mid-1970’s. The City of Vancouver leases the centre to the non-profity Shannon Daycare Society at a nominal rate. The Daycare serves a diverse group of children aged 18 months to 5 years old who come from low to middle income families. Over the years the playground deteriorated and was in need of repair. Vancouver City Council allocated $110,000 to retrofit and upgrade the Shannon Daycare outdoor area. Shannon Daycare Society also secured $25,000 from the Province of BC and fundraised for donations.
The Social Planning Department and the City’s Facility Design and Management Department hired a landscape architect to plan for the renovations. Together, they worked with the Shannon Daycare Society and Vancouver Coastal Health's Community Care Facility Licensing staff to design a playground that would meet health and safety standards, as well as create an interesting and educational outdoor play area for the children. The newly renovated playground was completed in the spring of 2007 and includes among other items new metal fencing, a rain and sun canopy, planters with donated trees, shrubs and flowers, a climbing structure with a slide, colourful rubber matting, and a bike path with a wood and steel bridge.
Shannon Daycare comes alive
with
colourful paints and the
addition of planters.
Shaw Towers Children’s Centre
Shaw Towers Children’s Centre is on the 5th floor of a 40 story building which includes commercial space and live work residential space in Coal Harbour. Shaw Towers was built and furnished by the site owner for the City of Vancouver as a condition of rezoning of the Coal Harbour Lands. The City of Vancouver leases the centre at a nominal rate to the Vancouver Society of Children’s Centres to provide a 37 space program for infants to age 5 years.
Playing in the new gardens
at
Shaw.
Further Information
To find out more about the projects listed on this page, or about how good design contributes to child development, please contact Suzy Lunn, Social Planner, at suzy.lunn@vancouver.ca.
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