The infant and toddler care program at the West Sechelt YMCA will reopen next month.
It will initially have eight spaces starting Oct. 5, and the Town of Gibsons said it aims to increase capacity to 12 in 2027. The YMCA Child Care Centre in Gibsons also reopened its infant and toddler program in August with eight spaces.
The reopenings came after recruitment efforts to address staffing challenges.
“Access to childcare is essential for our community,” said Mayor Silas White. “Getting these spaces reopened was urgent and the response from our community was swift and effective. People came together, rallied around these centres and worked to bring these important spaces back. We’re very grateful to everyone who played a part in making this happen.”
The Town of Gibsons said spaces will be offered first to children displaced when the West Sechelt program closed, followed by siblings of children in care at West Sechelt. Remaining spaces will then be offered to children on the waitlist.
“We know there is still work to do to address the long-term childcare needs of families in our communities,” White said. “For now, we are pleased to see these spaces returning and to recognize everyone whose efforts helped make this possible.”
