New Child Care Spaces in SD73 – Board Advocacy Priority
The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is excited to have opened two new child care centres since 2023.
The first child care centre at Ralph Bell Elementary School in Valleyview opened on December 4, 2023. The second child care centre at Happyvale (next to Twin Rivers Education Centre) opened on April 22, 2024. Each new child care site provides a total of 72 spaces and is operated by Inquiring Little Minds (ILM).
Parents/Guardians who are interested in accessing child care at Ralph Bell or Happyvale may submit their child’s information to the ILM online waitlist form — more information is available on the ILM website: ilmeducationcenter.com. If you have questions about current space availability, please send an email to Inquiring Little Minds here.
On April 22, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced funding support for new licensed child care spaces in the Thompson-Cariboo region. Support to build both centres included $2.8 million through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund.
The Board continues to advocate for additional child care centres in the Kamloops-Thompson School District, with future plans including a child care site at the new Parkcrest Elementary School.
New Child Care Spaces in SD73 – Join the Journey!
Apr. 27, 2022 - Ministry News |
Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen shares how the Ministry is ‘Making child care affordable and accessible for all’ with 144 new child spaces coming to Kamloops – located at Happyvale and Ralph Bell Elementary schools and operated by the District. |
Apr. 21, 2022 - Ministry News Release |
Ministry of Education and Child Care announces funding to support new licensed child care spaces in the Thompson-Cariboo region. |
Dec. 11, 2023 - Public Board Report |
The Board of Education approves the JustB4 program expansion. |
Dec. 5, 2023 - Castanet News | News reports on Ralph Bell Elementary Child Care Centre Opening. |
Dec. 4, 2023 - Radio NL |
Minister of State for Child Care Grace Lore discusses new SD73 child care centres with Radio NL. |
Dec. 4, 2023 - SD73 News |
SD73 Opens Ralph Bell Elementary Child Care. |
Dec. 4, 2023 - Ministry News Release |
New child care centre opens at Ralph Bell Elementary in Kamloops. |
Oct. 30, 2023 - Public Board Report |
Child Care environmental scan survey results presented to the Board. |
Oct. 26, 2023 - SD73 News |
Inquiring Little Minds Child Care Centre at Ralph Bell Elementary School Opening Soon. Parents/Guardians interested in accessing child care may submit their child’s information to the ILM online waitlist form at ilmeducationcenter.com. |
Oct. 24, 2023 - Ralph Bell Progress Update |
Inquiring Little Minds (ILM) was granted the licence to operate the Child Care centre located at Ralph Bell Elementary School with a phased approach to having families bring their children into child care. The phased approach is commonly used to help children gain a sense of comfort with before and after school care as well as day care. ILM has been collecting families’ names and communicating with families directly.
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Sept. 1, 2023 - Ralph Bell & Happyvale Progress Update |
Ralph Bell
Twin Rivers Education Centre (Happyvale)
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Aug. 24, 2023 - Ralph Bell Progress Update |
Ralph Bell
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Aug. 1, 2023 - Ralph Bell Progress Update |
Ralph Bell
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July 7, 2023 - SD73 News | SD73 is Preparing for New Child Care Spaces at Ralph Bell Elementary School. On behalf of the Board of Education, Board Chair Heather Grieve shares that 72 child care spaces will open up once Inquiring Little Minds communicates a start date for intake of applications, which is expected to be in August. |
Feb. 27, 2023 - Public Board Report | Early Learning and Child Care Annual Report presented to the Board. |
June 11, 2024 |
Child Care RFP opens: New RFP for child care (T24031), specific to the newly built Parkcrest Elementary, becomes available on BC Bid. The RFP encompasses two rooms: Infant/Toddler and 3-5-year-old. The RFP is open from June 11 to August 9, 2024 (4pm). |
Apr. 22, 2024 - CFJC News |
News reports on Happyvale Child Care Centre Opening. |
Apr. 22, 2024 - SD73 News |
Opening of Inquiring Little Minds’ Child Care Centre at Happyvale. |
Apr. 22, 2024 - Ministry News Release |
New child care centre opens at former Kamloops school. |
Mar. 11, 2024 - Public Board Report |
Early Learning and Child Care Annual Report highlighting programs and services provided over the last year and future action items presented to the Board. |
Jan. 22, 2024 - Happyvale Progress Update |
Twin Rivers Education Centre (Happyvale)
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Watch for updates here and through social media.
Questions can be sent to: Facility Input
If you would like to post as we provide updates, please go to:
- Facebook: Kamloops-Thompson School District 73
- Instagram: @sd73_Kamloops
- X: @Kamloops_SD73
Contact Us
School District No. 73 Kamloops-Thompson
1383 9th Ave, Kamloops, BC V2C 3X7
Phone: 250-374-0679, Fax: 250-372-1183