For immediate release
July 22, 2022
Opening of the New Child Care Centre in Comox
On Friday, July 22, 2022, the Honourable Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care and MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed, Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay – Comox, Russ Arnott, Mayor of Comox, and representatives from the Comox Valley Children’s Day Care Society (CVCDCS) officially opened the Aspen Grove Children’s Centre at a ribbon cutting event.
The Town of Comox was successful in its applications and received two grants in 2020, one from the Province of British Columbia through their Child Care Major Capital Funding/Childcare BC New Spaces Fund Project and another through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The grants covered the purchase of the commercial unit space negotiated with the Developer, Highstreet Ventures and the interior improvements and equipment for the centre.
“I am happy to celebrate the opening of Aspen Grove and 28 new child care spaces with Comox families,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care. “This centre is one of the ways we are delivering on our commitments to fund more child care spaces throughout B.C. and to create a future where child care is a core service that families can rely on.”
“I am also pleased to share in this exciting announcement of new childcare spaces in Comox. Having safe, accessible, and reliable childcare spaces makes Comox a better place to live for parents and families,” said Ronna Rae Leonard, MLA for Comox-Courtenay. “The new Aspen Grove Children’s Centre is a beautiful addition to the community, and I know families and kids are looking forward to having more spaces to play.”
Currently, there is high demand for child care spaces in the Town. This centre will assist with some of the challenges families are experiencing in going back to work or relocating to this community. The new Aspen Grove Children’s Centre is a fully licensed, 28 new space day care that will provide 12 spaces for children up to 36 months of age and 16 spaces for children 30 months to school age). The Town of Comox signed a long-term lease with the CVCDCS to operate and maintain the facility. The space is approximately 180 m2 of indoor commercial space and 200 m2 of outdoor patio space in the mixed use residential-commercial building.
“The new Aspen Grove Children’s Centre is going to provide quality care for young working families in our community,” said Russ Arnott, Mayor of Comox. “The Town’s recent residential developments have attracted newcomers to this neighbourhood. This makes this child care location ideal for drop-off and pick-up of siblings at the nearby Aspen Park Elementary School, with the added convenience of local shopping establishments close by for after work errands.”
“The CVCDCS has been providing quality childcare for over 50 years. We are extremely excited to be entering into this unique partnership with the Town of Comox, and to being a part of a vibrant neighborhood,” said Charlene Gray, Senior Manager, CVCDCS. “We know that when families thrive, communities thrive. It is our privilege to provide loving care and support to so many new families.”
For more information on the Aspen Grove Children’s Centre, visit https://cvcdcs.com .
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Media Contact:
Russ Arnott, Mayor, Town of Comox
250-339-2202