Attention parents, caregivers and childcare providers: The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) wants to hear what you have to say about childcare.
The RMOW has launched two surveys and is asking parents, caregivers and current and potential childcare providers to fill out a survey and share their childcare needs, experiences and insights, the municipality announced in a release on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Survey results will help inform the municipality's efforts to create an action plan for childcare for Whistler.
The surveys come on the heels of a $24,840 grant provided to the RMOW by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and the province in January, intended to help Whistler conduct a childcare needs assessment and produce a "Child Care Action Plan."
"With the significant growth our community has experienced in the last few years, it is well-known that childcare is a huge struggle for many families in Whistler," said Whistler Councillor Jen Ford in the release.
"We are very appreciative for this grant from UBCM and the province to fund a childcare needs assessment and produce an action plan to help provide direction toward more accessible and affordable childcare options in Whistler. We know that the start of the school year is a busy time, but I strongly encourage families and current and potential child care providers to take the time to fill out this very important and detailed survey."
According to the release, the RMOW is currently conducting a community childcare space inventory in addition to community engagement to determine needs, barriers and trends related to the topic in Whistler.
Results from that engagement will be shared publicly in a report to Whistler council later this year, as well as in a Child Care Action Plan that's set to be presented to council by March 2020. "The plan will help shape policy decisions and identify potential mechanisms to help address the demand for child care in Whistler," read the release.
Added Ford, "Child care is a complex, nation-wide issue in Canada, and communities like Whistler can look at what our specific challenges are, and what can be done locally.
"A variety of factors impact child care from availability, wages and licensing for those who work in this sector, to spaces and cost of care. We are taking an evidence-based approach to reviewing the issue to help define potential areas where we can affect change," she said.
The surveys will remain open until October 20, 2019, while the Whistler Centre for Sustainability will undertake the surveys on behalf of the RMOW.
To fill out a survey or for more information about the project, head to www.whistler.ca/childcare.
