‘Doubly disappointing’; Early Learning Society of Kamloops regrouping after unsuccessful funding applications

KAMLOOPS — The head of the Early Learning Society of Kamloops (ELSK) is disappointed that the organization’s application for provincial funding to build a new daycare facility in the Sagebrush neighbourhood was denied.

Executive Director Karyn Sutherland says it is the second time ELSK has applied for funding to build a new day care on a lot at 1510 Ninth Avenue, adjacent to the existing facility.

“We thought that we had gotten the proposal to a level where we would be successful, but that didn’t happen,” Sutherland said. “We did get some feedback that it was a very strong proposal, but there was just an oversubscription for funding again.

“We continue to be hopeful that there may be a call for new funding coming out soon, but it is disappointing news for sure.”

Speaking to CFJC Today, Sutherland said ELSK has been working on plans for this new day care with Interior Health and the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, as it would primarily be for children of healthcare workers.

“The need is there considering the new cancer centre that will be going in,” Sutherland said.

“We know the federal government has also committed to transferring more funds over the next number of years for child care, so we’ll just continue to try and serve the needs of the community.”

In February, the City of Kamloops sent a letter to the province and urged it to fund that day care, adding it was “at great risk of being permanently lost.”

“It’s tremendously disappointing to lose this opportunity that would have benefited healthcare workers, our general population and families in desperate need of child care,” Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who spearheaded the initiative to sent the letter, told CFJC Today.

“It puts children at risk, it puts families at a disadvantage and it is frustrating to see Kamloops repeatedly overlooked despite how perfectly our application will fit the parameters.”

A separate application from the City of Kamloops for funding to build a new day care at the Parkview Activity Centre near McDonald Park was also denied.

Land still for sale

Sutherland said she’s hopeful ELSK won’t have to completely rework its application if it applies for funding again, as the property intended for the day care is still listed for sale.

“That’s always the risk but I do I continue to feel strongly that the best sale would be for child care and so I’m hopeful that the stars will align,” she said. “We would love the city to also recognize that and potentially take a step toward securing that land for that purpose for the community but that’s not in our hands.”

Sutherland also said it would be “complicated” for the property to be used for another project as it would share a driveway with the existing day care. There would also be a lot of children in the area, which she said could be “a complication for another type of tenant.”

Neustaeter couldn’t comment about the status of the land transaction, or if that is something that the city is considering. That’s because discussions around acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land are done in closed meetings.

“A landowner can’t sit on a property forever, hoping the province will take advantage of the perfect opportunity created for them,” Neustaeter said. “They also have to think about their bottom line. It’s a shame that the provincial government rejected an ideal project and, at the moment, it’s a loss for everyone involved.”

“Of course, the grant program was oversubscribed. That’s predictable, but I have questions about why this project wouldn’t be at the top of the list for funding, especially in an area of the province where the government has struggled to provide the healthcare professionals needed to meet the Interior’s needs.”

$10-a-day daycare application also denied

ELSK is “doubly disappointed” as it was also not successful in its application for funding to turn its existing facility at 1500 Ninth Avenue into a $10-a-day facility.

“That was really disappointing to our parents, as well, because that is obviously something that helps them a lot,” Sutherland said. “We thought we were a good candidate for that but the province thought otherwise.”

She also said ELSK will be reapplying for funding to join the $10-a-day program when it becomes available.

“My understanding is that we are on a shortlist for the next year, or close to a year, so we’ll continue to correspond with the province to see if there is anything that we can do to make our application more attractive to them,” Sutherland said.

“Right now, we’re just taking a breath because it was disappointing to miss out so it’ll take a while to regroup and before we can continue to move forward.”