Childcare Barriers and Opportunities Survey Results
The results of the survey aimed at understanding childcare needs and concerns in the Elk Valley have been compiled and are ready to be shared.
You can view the final report online. (PDF)
Elk Valley Child Care Resources
Funded by the Natural Resource Sector, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (Project No. 2016100017). Please note that is the responsibility of parents to determine whether child care is appropriate for their family, including considerations regarding licensing status, registration with the Child Care Resource and Referral Program, or issues such as first aid certification or criminal records checks.
Child Care Providers
Fernie
- Bright Beginnings Preschool (30 months-5years): 778-519-5288
- Busy Bees Family Daycare (1-5 years): 250-423-9787
- Coal Creek Child Care (birth-12 years): 250-430-2329
- Fernie Child Care Society (10 months-5 years): 250-423-3313
- Fernie Creative Minds Preschool (2.5-5 years): 250-423-1144
- Fernie School Aged Care- Max Turyk (5-12 years and summer camps for 3-12 year olds): 250-430-3155
- Little Me Play Care (3-5 years): 250-430-7474
- The Cottage Daycare (10 months-5 years): 250-423-1201
- Fernie Kids Childcare and Learning (10 months-5 years): 250-423-1928
- Our Kids Daycare (10 months-12 years): 250-946-6669
Sparwood
- A Place to Play (6 months-12 years): 250-425-9121
- Sparwood Treehouse (10 months-12 years): 250-425-4443
Elkford
- Elkford Playschool Program (2.5-5 years): 250-433-1863
- Mountain Top Daycare (birth-12 years): 250-425-5225
Jaffray
- South Country Preschool (3-5 years): 250-421-2394
Other Resources
East Kootenay Child Care Resource and Referral Program
https://www.childcarechoices.ca/main/Interior/East+Kootenay/
Provides free consultation, support, parenting information, child care referral services, and assistance with subsidy applications to parents seeking child care. Supports child care providers with information and referrals, outreach and support visits, resources, and workshop opportunities. Also provides a toy lending library and low-cost craft store, and publishes a newsletter. Located in Cranbrook, but provides services to Elk Valley residents.
Elkford Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1112751382077710/?fref=nf
Sparwood Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1751095385120061/
Fernie Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ferniechildcareforum/
Canadian Au Pair Solutions
https://aupairsolutions.ca/
Provides a non-agency service that assists clients with finding an Au Pair, including guidance on becoming an employer. Au pairs are young people ages 18-35 who can legally work in Canada under working holiday visas, for a period of 6-24 months. The immigration requirements are simplified compared to those for hiring a full-timein-home nanny.
International Experience Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/iec-online-application-eng.pdf
Overview of the process that au pairs follow to become eligible to work in Canada. The rules are very different from those to become a live-in caregiver (nanny).
CanadianNanny.ca
https://canadiannanny.ca/
Online service that provides members with access to profiles of available nannies across Canada.
NannyServices.ca
http://www.nannyservices.ca/default.asp
Online service that provides members with access to profiles of available nannies across Canada.
NanniesInc
http://nanniesinc.ca/
Nanny agency with service throughout BC.
Global Nannies & Caregivers Agency
http://www.globalnanniesagency.com/
Nanny agency with service throughout BC.
Click the above image for more details.
Financial Assistance
BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit
Provides a non-taxable monthly amount to eligible parents and caregivers of children 6 years of age and younger with annual family incomes less than $150,000.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/bc-early-childhood-tax-benefit
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
New licensed child care providers approved to “opt-in” to participate in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative will receive funding to reduce parent fees.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/child-care/stakeholder_faq_qa_child_care_final.pdf
Canada Child Benefit
Provides a non-taxable monthly amount to eligible parents and caregivers of children 18 years of age and younger.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/ccb/menu-eng.html
Monthly Child Care Subsidy
Provides funding to eligible low income families toward the costs of care including licensed family home, group child care, preschool, registered license-not-required home, license not-required home, or in the child’s own home.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care/financial-assistance-for-child-care
Canada Revenue Agency Tax Deductions
Provides information on claiming child care expenses as a tax deduction.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns206-236/214/menu-eng.html