Child care spaces coming to CapU

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.—Capilano University (CapU) students with children will soon have more support thanks to a child care project.

The B.C. school is working on a new purpose-built Centre for Childhood Studies with expanded onsite child care and learning spaces for students at the School of Education and Childhood Studies.

“Investing in the people who deliver child care is investing in children,” said Anne Kang, minister of advanced education and skills training, in a statement. “Capilano University’s Centre for Childhood Studies will set up learners of all ages for success. It will ensure a strong start for children and support their parents who are pursuing their own studies. This new centre will more than double the number of child care spaces available on campus, while also enhancing the learning environment for students in the early childhood educators (ECEs) program.”

The project is scheduled to open in 2024. It will more than double the school’s existing child care capacity by adding 74 new spaces for a total of 143 on-campus spaces. Students, employees and community members are all eligible to apply for space for their children at the new centre.

“ECEs are the workforce behind the workforce, and it’s this new state-of-the-art centre that will give ECE students on-the-job training by allowing them to work directly with the children attending the centre’s child care program,” said Katrina Chen, minister of state for child care. “These new spaces at Capilano University will also make life easier for busy parents and give them peace of mind knowing their kids are being well-cared for nearby.”

The centre includes approximately 7,000 square metres of new studio space, study and research labs, classrooms and faculty offices. The two-storey sustainably built environment is also expected increase opportunities for practicum placements on campus.

“As a leader in early childhood education, CapU is pleased to introduce plans for the Centre for Childhood Studies,” said Brad Martin, dean of education, health and human development.