Child Care Task Force Consultation

The ECD Committee was invited to help inform the Child Care Task Force (formed in 2018) to determine existing child care in our community and the needs that exist. The Child Care Working Group has been consulting with the Task Force to impart our research, knowledge, and experience within the Tri-Cities community. The Child Care Task Force was created by School District #43 with the cooperation of the cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcara to tackle a growing need for greater child care availability.
 

How this evolved:

The Child Care Working Group was originally formed, as a subcommittee of the ECD Committee, to focus on child care in our communities in 2008. The areas of concern identified at the Child Care Forum hosted in 2007, were used as a basis for forming our new work plan which includes:

• Increasing public awareness of child care as early learning
• Continuing to advocate for the need for child care space in schools
• Maintaining awareness of the need for child care space in municipal planning
• Informing child care providers of the work of the ECD and MCM Committees

The public feedback during the 2018 municipal election opened up a dialogue about child care needs. The City of Coquitlam invited some ECD Table representatives to provide information in the development of their proposed child care strategy. Later, the School District and the Cities decided this issue would benefit from a collaborative approach and invited the ECD Table to join the Child Care Task Force.