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Key Policy Documents

The following documents comprise the key policy approaches developed by the City of Vancouver over the last 15 years. These spell out the general direction and intent that the City has taken with regard to encouraging the development and operation of services and facilities for the 0-6 population.

There are also a range of other “tools” and initiatives (design guidelines, service studies, etc.) that have been generated within this period. Many of these can be found in both the Tools & Resources section, as well as our Council Reports page.

1. Children’s Policy of the City of Vancouver:
   Created in 1992, the Vancouver Children’s Policy (PDF, 2.00MB) outlines the broad tenets of the City’s approach to supporting and nourishing its children.
   
   
2. Civic Childcare Strategy:
   Vancouver is home to an estimated 62,000 children, from ages birth to 12 years old, and is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada. Children have been a priority of the City for well over a decade. The 1990 Civic Childcare Strategy [ view PDF version (2.05MB) ] set the framework for the City’s mandate and involvement in childcare. The City, like the majority of municipalities in Canada, does not directly deliver childcare services. Within these limitations,the City prioritizes its investments in childcare through limited direct operating Childcare Grants Program, capital grants, facilities development through Development Cost Levies (DCL) and Community Amenity Contributions (CAC), infrastructure support and community capacity building. Currently, of the 9,200 licensed childcare spaces in Vancouver, approximately 4,500 are located in civic facilities.
   
   
3. “Moving Forward” - Childcare: A Cornerstone of Child Development Services, April 15, 2002
   Building on the Civic Childcare Strategy In 2002, the City of Vancouver Council adopted a vision and framework called “Moving Forward” Childcare: A Cornerstone of Child Development Services, to better integrate early childhood education and care at both, a policy and implementation level, locally. The vision was supported by a broad based consultation, including other local levels of government and planning bodies, community agencies, committees and families. It recognizes, as part of the continuum of child development, the need for early childhood education, parenting support and licensed child care, of which licensed childcare is a cornerstone. These services would be delivered within a child development hub model. Childcare is a vital as a support to women in the labour force and economic development, a support to at-risk children and a vehicle for improving school readiness.
   
   
4. Childcare Protocol:
   In February and March, 2004, Vancouver City Council, Park Board and School Board approved a protocol “Child Care – A Commitment from Local Government.” The protocol was a result of direction from the three local levels of government to maintain and expand accessible, affordable, quality childcare and to develop a process to achieve these ends. View the September 2005 status report on the Childcare Protocol (PDF, 72KB).

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© 2010 City of Vancouver
Last modified: Tuesday, May 11, 2010