The Desperate Need for Before and After School Care Programs in B.C.

Image Credit Across British Columbia, families are struggling with one of the most pressing childcare issues of our time: the lack of accessible, affordable, and reliable before and after school care. While full-day childcare programs have seen some progress in recent years, a huge gap remains for school-aged children. Parents who work standard hours—or anything outside the school day—are left scrambling for solutions that often don’t exist in their communities. This isn’t just inconvenient. It’s a crisis. Why the Need Is So Urgent Workday vs. School Day: A typical workday runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but most elementary schools run from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. This leaves up to three hours of unaccounted time every single day. Transportation Barriers: When before and after school programs are not offered at the child’s own school, parents must arrange transportation—an impossible task for many working families. Limited Spots: In some communities, programs fill up instantly,...