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We’re thrilled to announce the opening of two new licensed child care spaces at our Kelly Creek Community School and Edgehill Elementary locations, made possible by the Government of BC’s ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. The grand opening, held on November 2nd, brought our community together to celebrate this exciting milestone.  

 to watch a short video recap of the grand opening. A special thank you to our speakers:

- Jaclyn Miller, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Board Chair 

- Dr. Elsie Paul, Tla’amin Nation Elder 

- Earl Almeida, Acting Mayor 

- Randene Neill, MLA Elect 

- Heidi Worthington, YMCA CEO 

- Raun Rainbow, Principal of Early Learning, Child Care, and School Nutrition 

Other special guests in attendance we would like to acknowledge: 

- Cindy Elliot, Powell River City Councillor 

- Trina Isakson, Powell River City Councillor 

- Rob Hill, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Trustee 

- Maureen Mason, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Trustee 

- Kirsten Van’t Schip, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Trustee 

- Vianne Kintzinger, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Interim Superintendent 

- Steve Hopkins, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Secretary Treasurer 

- Cathy Poole, YMCA Vice-President 

… And a very special little guest to help us cut the ribbon! 

Why This Matters to Our Community 

The YMCA's new child care spaces are more than just facilities, they represent a commitment to nurturing the next generation in our community. Parents can trust that the YMCA provides high-quality child care services, while simultaneously preparing children for kindergarten in a supportive and engaging environment.   

We had the opportunity to speak with Heidi Worthington, CEO and President, and Cathy Poole, Vice-President, at the grand opening, who shared insights about the YMCA’s early childhood curriculum, the positive impacts observed in other communities, and their focus on promoting an inclusive environment. 

The YMCA has hired 16 certified Early Childhood Educators (ECE) for qathet region, each with specialized infant-toddler training, to lead a play-based curriculum called “Playing to Learn”. “It’s all about getting them ready for school,” explained Cathy Poole. “It is not just child-minding where it’s keeping them happy during the day - it’s actually skill building through play and exploration.” This approach is important for families who want to ensure their children are prepared for the challenges of school from an early age. 

Child care has become a central focus of YMCA programming, particularly in supporting young children and after-school programs. As Heidi Worthington shared, one of the most rewarding impacts they have seen in other communities is the confidence and trust parents feel. “They don’t have to question whether their child is getting the best care, they just know. The relationships that parents build with our staff, who are caring for and helping to raise their children, become quite strong,” she said. 

A key focus of the YMCA’s child care program is teaching children to be considerate of others and to value differences from a young age, which has always been central to the YMCA’s mission. This can be reflected in the books found in their facilities that discuss different families and cultural backgrounds, as well as in the diverse toys they provide. “It has to start when they’re really young, and embracing those differences has always been part of the roots of the Y. It’s important to encourage and foster that from the get-go,” said Worthington. 

These 2 new child care spaces mark an exciting chapter for families in qathet, creating an environment where children can thrive, learn, and grow together. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this possible and look forward to the positive impact these centres will have on our community.  

Welcome to qathet, YMCA! 

To read more on this, check out The Peak's article,