Ranger Park could be home to a new Smithers child care facility

The town of Smithers is mulling over the idea of creating a childcare facility at Ranger Park.

The town is trying to proactively address local child care challenges, beginning with the development of a Child Care Plan in 2021. The municipality is also working internally and with community partners to put the plan into action.

There is a current child care shortage of just over 200 spaces in Smithers.

The town knows that the impact of the existing coverage gap is increasingly manifested across various sectors, impacting the staffing levels of local businesses and service providers, as well as the availability of critical services.

Town staff are trying to create new child care spaces in the community and are considering establishing a new child care facility at a town-owned location. It would be funded by the province, through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund Program. Ranger Park has been identified as a potential location for the new facility.

Council has not yet decided on a specific location or even if they will apply for the funding. The idea currently on the table is to construct a new building at Ranger Park, either behind the existing structure or beside the playground in the front parking lot.

Residents were invited to a town hall meeting on Feb. 15 to learn more about the project and to offer feedback. There was also a survey to gain more insight into what community members thought of the idea.

An engagement report summarizing the feedback received from neighbourhood residents and other members of the public will be provided to council on Feb. 27.