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City of Parksville to work with Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island

Mayor: “There is a critical shortage of childcare spaces in Parksville”
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Subject to successful grant funding, the City of Parksville will enter into an agreement with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island to operate a full complement of child, youth and family community services at the Parksville Community Centre in 2021. (BGCCVI photo)

On Oct. 5, Parksville city council unanimously approved a resolution to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island for the provision of new licensed childcare and other associated child, youth and parent programming for Parksville.

READ MORE: Parksville council votes to help groups out

Mayor Ed Mayne said, “there is a critical shortage of childcare spaces in Parksville and very few services for youth available in our community. This project will help to meet the childcare needs of families by improving access to high quality care, including new licensed childcare spaces, renovations to an existing facility, enhanced accessible playground facilities, professional training and certification opportunities for staff and opportunities for community partnerships. On behalf of council, we are pleased to support families with young children, youth and parents in our community.”

There are several steps to accomplish the goal of providing expanded licensed childcare and youth programming for our community. As part of these steps the city will, in collaboration with the BGCCVI, submit a grant application for the provincial Childcare BC New Spaces Fund to secure funding for a licensed childcare facility.

Subject to successful grant funding, the city will enter into an agreement with the BGCCVI to operate a full complement of child, youth and family community services at the Parksville Community Centre in 2021.

The current operating agreement with the Parksville Community Centre Society (PCCS) expires on Dec. 31, 2020. The city provided notice to the PCCS that it will not be entering into a new agreement with the PCCS.

READ MORE: Boys and Girls Club Central Vancouver Island resumes programming

As part of this decision, council is investigating opportunities to provide community meeting space options in other facilities. As part of any future lease of the Parksville Community Centre, the City will retain the right to access the facility for community events such as elections, all candidates forums and an emergency reception centre.

— NEWS Staff, submitted

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