Starting this month, the YMCA is offering before and after school child care at a centre run out of Tumbler Ridge Elementary.
With space for 20 school-aged children, the program will “serve and support families in the Tumbler Ridge community.”
According to the YMCA, “There are options for Before and After School Care, Before School Care Only or After School Care Only, with hours of operation running 6:30 a.m. to school start and school dismissal to 5:30 p.m.”
And, when school is not running—say on Non-Instructional School Days or over spring break—the centre will be open all day.
“The YMCA knows the value in providing children with a welcoming and inclusive space where they explore, develop relationships and have fun with their peers,” said Amanda Alexander, Vice President, YMCA BC–Northern BC. “We are grateful to continue this important work alongside School District 59 and provide critical child care services to families in Tumbler Ridge, helping even more kids grow physically, socially, and emotionally.”
In December 2022, YMCA of Northern BC—now YMCA BC after officially amalgamating with two other BC based YMCAs—worked in partnership with the Tumbler Ridge Children’s Centre to take over operations of the child care space—now rebranded the YMCA Tumbler Ridge Care and Learning Centre—in the Community Centre. “This new school-age child care centre builds upon the important services provided by the learning centre and the shared commitment between School District 59 and the YMCA to provide children and families with every opportunity to thrive.”
Christy Fennell, School District 59 Superintendent says they’re excited to partner with the YMCA to offer before and after school care at Tumbler Ridge Elementary. “This opportunity provides families with accessible child care at their own community school. This opening will be the district’s fourth before and after school care program created in the last four years, and we appreciate the effort the YMCA has put into this partnership to support us on our journey of offering more child care spaces in all regions of our district.”
The YMCA is the largest not-for-profit child care provider in Canada. Throughout our network of early years and school age are programs, YMCA BC – Northern BC region currently provides quality care services for over 800 children from 0 to 12 years in Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, and Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe and Tumbler Ridge.
The waitlist for School Age Care at Tumbler Ridge Elementary is now open and can be completed at https://nbc.ymca.ca/child-care/. Information on how you can begin a career with YMCA Child Care can be found at: nbc.ymca.ca/careers .
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
