SSCS values working creatively and collaboratively with our government partners and stakeholders to enhance the lives of local residents. When the Province expanded their $10 a day child care prototype program from 2,500 to 12,500 spaces, we saw this as the perfect opportunity to support the growth of universal, affordable child care in the Sea to Sky Corridor, and beyond. 

A total of 164 SSCS child care spaces (12 in Pemberton and 152 in Squamish) will now operate as $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres.
They are:

• Dandelions and Dragonflies
• Valleycliffe Out of School Care
• Mamquam Out of School Care
• Brackendale Out of School Care
• Pemberton Out of School Care
• Squamish Out of School Care (also applies to full day daycare during school breaks)
• Garibaldi Highlands Out of School Care (also applies to full day daycare during school breaks)

Yes – there are two SSCS child care programs that were not eligible to participate.  The preschool age programs at Brackendale and Garibaldi Highlands are not participating at this time. Parents in those programs will be notified directly if this changes. 

SSCS $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres will operate between April 2022 and March 31, 2023. The province will communicate in advance of March 2023 with participating sites, regarding continuation of this funding opportunity.

As a currently enrolled family, you should receive a letter from us and the province outlining next steps.

Your child will be automatically enrolled in the $10 a day program and your child care fees will be automatically capped at $200/month (excluding any additional fees for extended hours, late fees, or optional services such as a meal plan or extra-curricular lessons or programming.)

All participating families must enroll in full-time child care as of September 2022.  This is to ensure compliance with the prototype program.  Despite enrolling in full-time child care, many families will still see a lower monthly child care bill as full-time fees at a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre are less expensive than two or more days of part-time care at an SSCS child care program.

We don’t anticipate any families losing their space. We’ll do our best to accommodate all currently enrolled families, and they will be given priority registration before we register any families from our waitlist.

Families who are currently enrolled in one of our seven participating child care programs  – Dandelions and Dragonflies, Valleycliffe Out of School Care, Mamquam Out of School Care, Brackendale Out of School Care (not the Preschool-Aged Program), Pemberton Out of School Care, Squamish Out of School Care, and Garibaldi Highlands Out of School Care (not the Preschool-Aged Program) –  will be automatically registered for the $10 a Day program.

Families who are currently registered in a non-participating SSCS child care program and those currently on our waitlist, will be advised should a spot at a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre come available.

For families wishing to register for our waitlist, we have temporarily paused our waitlist and will resume accepting new names in May 2022.  Check the $10 a Day webpage for waitlist updates

All families participating in the program will be required to register their children for full time care. Full time is considered four + hours, Monday – Friday for $10/day to a maximum of $200/month. Our Pemberton location will offer 3 hours at a cost of $7/day to a maximum of $140/month

While general fees for $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres are capped at $200 a month – participating centres may charge additional fees for hot lunches or extra programming activities for your child.

Yes. Families that are eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit will continue to have the benefit applied to their child care.  For some families, the combined savings from the benefit and the $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre will mean they can access child care at no cost.

You can learn more about the Affordable Child Care Benefit and whether your family qualifies here.

With the new $10/day fee structure, full-time child care is now less expensive than attending child care two or more days per week.

Registering for full time care doesn’t mean your child can’t still participate in afternoon activities or opt out of morning care.  None of our $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres require mandatory attendance

SSCS is committed to providing inclusive and barrier-free child care services. We work closely with the SCDP team and will do our best to make accommodations where necessary.

SSCS $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres will operate between April 2022 and March 31, 2023. The province will communicate in advance of March 2023 with participating sites, regarding continuation of this funding opportunity.

The province has made a commitment to make inclusive, affordable child care a core service every family can rely on by year 10 of the ChildCareBC plan.  Additionally, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting the province to achieve an average fee of $10 a day for children 0-5 under the terms of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Through a combination of provincial and federal investments, roughly 12,500 child care spaces in British Columbia will be providing $10 a day child care by December 2022. 

The province is committed to ensuring parents will continue to have access to affordable child care as we move towards an inclusive, child care system.  Information regarding funding past March 2023 will be shared in advance with your child care provider.

Please note, the $10 a Day program is voluntary, and if a $10 a Day site chooses at any time not to continue participation in the current or future funding model, they will revert to their previous operational funding, including market-based parent fees.

No. The current policy for late fees will remain in effect and additional charges will be applied.

Dandelions and Dragonflies will be providing year-round child care services, with a maximum yearly closure of two weeks.  All other programs will maintain their current hours.

Programs that operate year-round will be closed for a yearly maximum of two weeks. One week at the end of summer to prepare for the new school year and they may also close during the winter break.  Programs that run from September-June will be closed during all school closures (winter, spring, and summer breaks, as well as Pro D days).

Sites that are part of the 2021 expansion are being funded by the province, as announced in Budget 2021, through enhanced operational grants to approved licensed child care providers.