Rallying to Keep Daycare Spaces Open

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RALLY TO KEEP INFANT/TODDLER DAYCARE SPACES OPEN

With the threat of losing twenty daycare spaces for children aged 0-3 years, the District of Sechelt and Town of Gibsons are advocating to all levels of government to take immediate action to address the growing crisis in early childhood education across rural and coastal communities.

The recent announcement of the closure of infant-toddler programs at both the West Sechelt and Gibsons YMCA facilities has left families scrambling and communities reeling.

“The closure of infant-toddler programs on the Sunshine Coast is not just a child care issue—it’s a community emergency,” says Silas White, Mayor, Town of Gibsons. “When working families lose access to child care, our entire region suffers. We urgently call on senior governments to step in with targeted support for rural and coastal communities like ours. Without immediate action to stabilize existing programs and recruit qualified Early Childhood Educators, we risk losing stability for essential services for years to come.”

The District and Town are advocating for:

• Fixing immigration incentives by adjusting the federal point system, lowering score thresholds and processing visas faster for ECEs, to support recruitment on the Sunshine Coast.
• Urgent provincial and federal supports to recruit and retain ECEs in rural and coastal communities. Create an emergency stabilization fund and implement a universal, province-wide grid with competitive compensation.
• Affordable housing initiatives tailored to child care workers in areas with high housing costs, like those on the Sunshine Coast.
• Recognition of child care spaces as critical community infrastructure, deserving of protection and investment.

A joint letter has been sent to both the provincial and federal governments.