A new before and after school care centre on District property has opened in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
With provincial funding, Burnaby Schools led construction of the building on the grounds of Kitchener Elementary. The newly opened facility provides families in the community with child care for elementary-aged children beyond the school day.
Kristin Schnider is the Chair of the Burnaby Board of Education.
We're pleased to help make life a little easier for families with this additional space for child care. There is a tremendous need across the province for high quality and inclusive care. With the support of partners, we're committed to providing child care options like this new facility at Kitchener, in places that families know and trust."
The new facility at Kitchener Elementary has 24 before and after school care spaces, along with 10 preschool spaces at the location. It is one of many projects supported by the Board to create more child care on school grounds. The District has also worked with the City of Burnaby, which has funded child care projects with Burnaby Schools for younger children and infants.
The programs on school property are run by licensed child care providers. This new before and after school care centre at Kitchener is run by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families and is their second location at the school.
Hailey Jang is the Kitchener School Age Care and MacDonald Avenue Site Manager. She says both families and students appreciate the new inviting space.
"Seeing the children come in each day with their big smiles and excitement has been so special. They already feel comfortable, happy, and excited to enjoy their beautiful new space with their friends, every day."
Construction on several additional child care centres has completed. The building at Parkcrest Elementary is awaiting occupancy and will have 34 child care spaces.
The District has received occupancy permits for facilities that will add more than 120 new child care spaces, combined, at Brentwood Park Elementary, Twelfth Avenue Elementary, Stoney Creek Community School, and Stride Avenue Community School. The child care providers are working with licensing so that all four new buildings will be able to welcome children as soon as possible.
Collectively, more than 100 new child care spaces are also incorporated into school capital projects that are underway: the phase 2 expansion at Brentwood Park Elementary and a new school building at Cameron Elementary, both of which are under construction.
For child care facilities currently operating on District property, information about how to contact the providers about wait lists, programs, and more can be found here.
