City of Terrace hires consultant to review city's child care needs

The City of Terrace has opened up two surveys for public feedback to assess child care needs in the community.

At the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting this September, the province announced a $25,000 grant for cities wanting to do an assessment of the area's childcare needs.

These assessments are intended to look at the need for daycares in the community, an inventory of existing childcare spaces, space-creation targets and an action plan for creating more childcare spaces. Terrace is one of 70 B.C. communities participating in the program.

One survey is designed for comment for childcare service providers, the other for parents, guardians, and soon-to-be parents to share their thoughts. The responses will be kept confidential to produce statistics to estimate the current and future need of childcare spaces in the community. The city has hired Big River Analytics to conduct the survey and put together research statistics.

"The city recognizes that childcare is important in our community and we will be assessing how our municipality can help to address gaps, keeping in mind our jurisdiction and mandate as a local government," a city spokesperson told the Terrace Standard in March.

At the Union of BC Municipalities in September, the city submitted a proposal arguing the provincial government should establish a universal plan for childcare facilities without depending on municipalities to create and run them. Despite this, the city is still participating in the grant funding to conduct a needs assessment study.

These potential new spaces could be owned by the city, the school district, or care service provider, says the Ministry of Children and Family Development, though the ministry is not typically responsible for operation.

Both surveys can be accessed online at childcareinterrace.com. Feedback is being accepted until November 25.