Nanaimo's Childcare Deficit
Nanaimo's 2025 State of the Child Report reveals a significant childcare deficit in the region, with only 29 available spaces for every 100 children.
The report, undertaken by the Nanaimo Early Years Partnership, examined local service challenges using statistics from 2020-2024. Partnership members include representatives from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, Island Health, City of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island University, and various Indigenous, multicultural, and children's welfare organizations.
Childcare "is in crisis in the community," said Cheryl Booth, executive director of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre. "We wanted to share that we are a really fast-growing community in Nanaimo and we are not meeting the needs of this growth," Booth added.
The report highlights the need for increased childcare spaces to meet the demands of the growing community.
Author's summary: Nanaimo faces a childcare deficit with limited spaces.