Forum examines child care
The Record (New Westminster)
February 13, 2008
By: Theresa McManus

The City of New Westminster is exploring many facets of child care as part of its work on a child-care strategy.

The city is preparing a new child-care strategy that's intended to assist the city in planning for and working with others to develop new child-care spaces for children aged zero to 12 years of age.

A questionnaire has been developed for parents in order to gain a better understanding of the types of child-care spaces that are needed and when and where they are needed.

"We have had an excellent response. We are aiming for 300," said John Stark, the city's senior social planner. "It tells me it is an issue. Just the fact so many people have returned it, the interest in the forum itself."

The results of the questionnaire will be presented at a child-care resource fair and forum that's being held on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Century House.

"They will get the results of the questionnaire," Stark said. "Some things are definitely coming up with the difficulty locating child care."

While the survey included limited space for people to elaborate on child-care issues, many took the initiative to add additional information.

"I am amazed at how many people attached pages," Stark said. "You can really see the anxiety for some individuals."…

Representatives from North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, the District of North Vancouver and Richmond will explain some of the policies and tools they've implemented regarding child care.

"They are the ones who have up-to-date strategies," Stark said. "They are the ones with the most tools to facilitate child care."

The event is being sponsored by the City of New Westminster, with assistance from the New Westminster child-care strategy task group….

In addition to the parents' survey, the city has also provided child-care operators with a questionnaire. Some of those respondents have indicated a concern with regard to staffing and the supply of spaces - both the creation of new spaces and the maintenance of existing spaces.

A variety of groups will have tables at the resource fair, where parents will be able to access information about child care. …"I think it's going to be really informative, a chance to share information," Stark said. "There will be an evaluation form."

The information provided at the forum will help the city move toward the next step, which is development of a child-care strategy. It's hoped the strategy will be completed in June or July.