Childcare Barriers and Opportunities Survey Results
The results of the survey aimed at understanding childcare needs and concerns in the Elk Valley have been compiled and are ready to be shared.

You can view the final report online. (PDF)

Elk Valley Child Care Resources
Funded by the Natural Resource Sector, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (Project No. 2016100017). Please note that is the responsibility of parents to determine whether child care is appropriate for their family, including considerations regarding licensing status, registration with the Child Care Resource and Referral Program, or issues such as first aid certification or criminal records checks.

Child Care Providers

Fernie

• Bright Beginnings Preschool (30 months – 5 years) 778-519-5288
• Fernie Child Care Society (10 months – 5 years) 250-423-3313
• Fernie School Aged Care – Sophie Moreau/Max Turyk School (5 years – 12 years), offer summer camps for 3 years – 12 years) 250-430-3155, fernieschoolagedcare@gmail.com – after school care for school aged children
• Elk Valley Kids Club – Isabella Dicken Elementary School (5 years – 12 years) Before School Care, 250-430-3155, fernieschoolagedcare@gmail.com – also provide after school care for school aged children at Isabella Dicken Elementary School
• Little Me Pre Kindergarten (3 years – 5 years), 250-430-7474
• Wild Wapiti Preschool (1 year – 5 years) https://wildwapitiplayschool.ca
• Griz Kids Centre (3 years – 5 years) Full Day and Half Day care 250-423-2406, snowschool@skifernie.com
• Sweet Peas Daycare 250-278-0098, sweetpeasfernie@gmail.com
• Fernie Kids Childcare & Learning (Multi-Age) 250-423-1928, meretta@ferniekids.com

Sparwood

• A Place to Play (6 months – 12 years) 250-425-9121 – provide after school care for school aged children
• Sparwood Treehouse, The Society for Kids Care (10 months – 12 years) 250-425-4443 – provide after school care for school aged children
• Laugh & Learn Sparwood (3 years – 5 years) laughandlearnsparwood@gmail.com – provide after school care for school aged children (5 years – 9 years)
• Sweet Feet Child Care (18 months – 12 years) 250-433-7575 – provide after school care for school aged children

Elkford

• Elkford Preschool Program (2.5 years – 5 years) 250-433-1863
• Curious Cubs Early Learning Centre (10 months – 5 years) 250-715-6288
• Alpine Childcare Solutions (3+ years) 250-433-1336

Other Resources

East Kootenay Child Care Resource and Referral Program
https://www.childcarechoices.ca/main/Interior/East+Kootenay/
Provides free consultation, support, parenting information, child care referral services, and assistance with subsidy applications to parents seeking child care. Supports child care providers with information and referrals, outreach and support visits, resources, and workshop opportunities. Also provides a toy lending library and low-cost craft store, and publishes a newsletter. Located in Cranbrook, but provides services to Elk Valley residents.

Elkford Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1112751382077710/?fref=nf

Sparwood Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1751095385120061/

Fernie Childcare Forum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ferniechildcareforum/

Canadian Au Pair Solutions
https://aupairsolutions.ca/
Provides a non-agency service that assists clients with finding an Au Pair, including guidance on becoming an employer. Au pairs are young people ages 18-35 who can legally work in Canada under working holiday visas, for a period of 6-24 months. The immigration requirements are simplified compared to those for hiring a full-timein-home nanny.

International Experience Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/iec-online-application-eng.pdf
Overview of the process that au pairs follow to become eligible to work in Canada. The rules are very different from those to become a live-in caregiver (nanny).

CanadianNanny.ca
https://canadiannanny.ca/
Online service that provides members with access to profiles of available nannies across Canada.

NannyServices.ca
http://www.nannyservices.ca/default.asp
Online service that provides members with access to profiles of available nannies across Canada.

NanniesInc
http://nanniesinc.ca/
Nanny agency with service throughout BC.

Global Nannies & Caregivers Agency
http://www.globalnanniesagency.com/
Nanny agency with service throughout BC.

Click the above image for more details.

Financial Assistance

BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit
Provides a non-taxable monthly amount to eligible parents and caregivers of children 6 years of age and younger with annual family incomes less than $150,000.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/bc-early-childhood-tax-benefit

Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
New licensed child care providers approved to “opt-in” to participate in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative will receive funding to reduce parent fees.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/child-care/stakeholder_faq_qa_child_care_final.pdf

Canada Child Benefit
Provides a non-taxable monthly amount to eligible parents and caregivers of children 18 years of age and younger.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/ccb/menu-eng.html

Monthly Child Care Subsidy
Provides funding to eligible low income families toward the costs of care including licensed family home, group child care, preschool, registered license-not-required home, license not-required home, or in the child’s own home.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care/financial-assistance-for-child-care

Canada Revenue Agency Tax Deductions
Provides information on claiming child care expenses as a tax deduction.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns206-236/214/menu-eng.html