Families in Penticton now have expanded access to child care with the opening of a new YMCA Child Care facility at 325 Power Street, next to the Community Centre.

This expansion reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to supporting families by providing affordable and accessible child care resources and advancing the goals of Penticton’s 2021 Child Care Action Plan. The Action Plan established an ambitious target of creating 722 new licensed child care spaces by 2030. Through strong advocacy, collaborative partnerships and strategic facility expansions, the City and its community partners have created 521 new spaces, significantly increasing local access to quality child care and strengthening supports for children and families. We are now close to three-quarters (72%) of the way to meeting our target.

The new child care centre provides up to 81 licensed child care spaces throughout the day, serving children from infancy through age 12. The centre will offer 12 spaces for infants and toddlers (0–36 months) and 46 spaces for children aged 30 months to school age. Programming includes 23 out-of-school care spaces.

The Power Street YMCA Child Care Centre was made possible through $4.5 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, a key initiative aimed at increasing access to licensed child care across the province. This fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government have signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 to 2030-31, and in June, the Government of Canada announced that it is providing an additional investment of up to $5.4 billion over two years, starting in 2026-27, to support all provinces and territories in keeping child care fees stable and affordable for families.

Since its launch in 2018, the fund has supported the creation of more than 42,800 new licensed child care spaces, with more than 30,700 now operating throughout British Columbia.

“The Government of Canada is partnering Government of British Columbia to make it easier for parents and families in Penticton to access affordable child care,” said Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna and Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. “These new spaces will help ease the pressure on parents and give more children a place to learn and grow in their community.”

"Affordable and accessible child care is an important part of making our city sustainable," said Mayor Julius Bloomfield. "The City is deeply committed to working with partners to create new spaces, ensuring children have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in safe and supportive environments. We are proud to partner with the YMCA and the Province to bring these much-needed spaces to our community."

The YMCA of Southern Interior BC has operated two child care locations in Penticton, BC since 2023. With decades of experience delivering high-quality programs, the new Power Street location will continue to provide welcoming and inclusive spaces where children can build confidence, form lasting friendships, and thrive in engaging environments.

The facility will also offer YMCA school age camps, providing children with a safe and supportive environment that serves as a home away from home for local families.

“Access to quality, affordable child care is essential for strong families and thriving communities," said Allyson Graf, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA of Southern Interior BC. "As the YMCA celebrates 175 years of service in Canada and 45 years in the Southern Interior, we're continuing to invest in the services communities need most. Through projects like the Power Street Child Care Centre and our expansion of health and fitness services in the South Okanagan, we're proud to help meet the evolving needs of local families. In partnership with the City of Penticton and the Province of British Columbia, this new centre will create more licensed child care spaces and provide children with a safe, welcoming place to learn, grow and connect, while supporting parents to work, study and contribute to the community."

No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides direct, tax-free support, helping about 3.5 million families every year, including over 450,000 families in B.C. While families can use the benefit however they need, for many it significantly reduces the burden of child care expenses – in some cases, cutting them entirely thanks to federal, provincial, and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.