Whereas Child Development Centres in Northern British Columbia, including the Child Development Centre of Prince George and District, provide essential services that support the health, development, inclusion, and wellbeing of children and families across the region; And whereas the Child Development Centre of Prince George and District is operating in an aging facility that requires significant renovation, retrofitting, and modernization to remain safe, accessible, and capable of supporting current and future service delivery needs; And whereas growing waitlists are resulting in some children aging out before receiving the services and supports they require, creating an urgent need for expanded capacity and earlier intervention; And whereas there is a strategic opportunity to leverage the Centres existing building and attached land base to renew infrastructure, expand services, and better meet the needs of children and families in Prince George and Northern British Columbia; And whereas strengthened partnerships with the University of Northern British Columbia and other post-secondary institutions would support education, practicum placements, workforce development, applied research, and long term capacity building in child development, early childhood care, and family support services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM recognize Child Development Centres in Northern British Columbia as essential community infrastructure and advocate to the Province of British Columbia for urgent capital and operational investment to renew, modernize, and expand the Child Development Centre of Prince George and District and other Child Development Centres across Northern British Columbia; And be it further resolved that the Province be called upon to support and fund formal partnerships with Northern British Columbia post-secondary institutions to build the specialized workforce, expand service capacity, and reduce waitlists so children and families can access critical developmental supports when they are needed.
