Castlegar Council considers Bylaw change to benefit in-home child care providers

Castlegar City Council is looking to increase the number of spaces allowed for in-home child care providers. First two readings of a new Bylaw have been done to bump the number up from five to eight, which is in line with Provincial regulations.

Desiree LePage, owner and operator of Desiree’s Family Daycare brought the issue to council along with early childhood educator and owner of Exploration Station Childcare, Deidra Price. There’s only one licensed in-home childcare provider at the moment in Castlegar, but Price explains, the hope is to encourage more in future through the Bylaw change.

“The hope is that if people are no longer restricted, their business would be more economically viable and they’d be interested in opening in the community.”

Both say they have wait lists at their facilities.

The Province allows for seven children maximum in In-Home Family Child Care and eight for In-Home Multi-Age Child Care.

Nelson and Trail are both in line with provincial regulations; however, some municipalities implement restrictions in order to reduce issues with traffic and noise in residential neighbourhoods. City staff feel the change would not have an unacceptable impact in terms of neighbourhood disruption. The Bylaw will go to a public hearing before final adoption.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

ckqr Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

West Kootenay under drought level three

Drought conditions in most of the West Kootenay region are at drought level three.  

Report on B.C. event safety submitted to B.C. government

A public inquiry about community event safety has been submitted to the B.C. Government.

Comox councillor enters B.C. Greens leadership race

Comox town councillor and family doctor Jonathan Kerr is in the running to be the next leader of the B.C. Greens. 

B.C. opens applications for IVF funding, offering up to $19K per patient

Applications are open now through to March 2026 for British Columbia’s publicly funded in-vitro fertilization program.

B.C. to let developers defer most fees until occupancy starting in 2026

Home builders in B.C. will be able to delay paying the majority of development cost charges until a building is occupied, starting next year.
- Advertisement -