Skip to content

YMCA opening in Vanderhoof

The YMCA of Northern B.C. announced plans to open a licensed childcare site in Vanderhoof on January 10, 2014.
23169vanderhoofymcaweb
From left: Pastor Shaun Wick

The YMCA of Northern B.C. announced plans to open a licensed childcare site in Vanderhoof on January 10, 2014.

The site will open on March 3 of this year and will have over 40 licensed spaces available for children aged three to five and five to 12 with before and after school care. YMCA is asking the District of Vanderhoof for $125,000 for one year of Recreation Services as they "move towards a long-term partnership."

Amanda Alexander, CEO of the YMCA of Northern BC was announced the addition of services with Director of Child Care Lynette Mikalishen.

"Over the past few years, YMCA has been part of many dialogues with various northern communities that have indicated to us that there may be some gaps in available services that we have the ability to provide," said Alexander. "All families deserve quality and affordable childcare and I'm confident that Lynette will lead the Vanderhoof childcare in providing YMCA programming which develops imagination, encourages learning and promotes life skills and positive values."

The new services will operate out of the Vanderhoof Gospel Chapel on Connaught Street which is run by Pastor Shaun Wick.

The YMCA of Northern B.C. will offer child care in three areas: group three to five care with two, three or five day options; morning and afternoon preschool, and twenty spaces in School Age Care – before and after school.

"This is an exciting day for Vanderhoof," said Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen. "I think this is a huge step forward in our community. We have done a lot these last number of years to really diversify our economy but we've had a couple things that have held us back and certainly preschool childcare was identified as one of those areas that we really need."