Pemberton Children's Centre expansion project

The Village of Pemberton is expanding the existing Pemberton Children’s Centre to provide additional child care spaces to the Pemberton Community.

Daycare is a critical service that is in short supply in the Pemberton Valley. In 2019, the Village of Pemberton Council established the expansion of daycare facilities as a strategic priority and planning of the Pemberton Children’s Centre expansion project began.

Since that time, in partnership with the Pemberton Childcare Society, the Village of Pemberton has submitted multiple funding applications in an effort to fund the project. In early 2022, the Village was awarded funding through the ChildCare BC New Spaces Fund to complete the expansion.

The purpose-built facility will include two classrooms, a nap/gross motor room, additional staff and child washrooms, an office, kitchen, storage room and additional outdoor space. The new space will be a standalone building adjacent to the existing facility.

Construction of the expansion will commence in Fall 2022.

What’s happening to the Nature Play Park?

The current location of the Nature Play Park falls within the area designated for the Pemberton Children’s Centre expansion project. It’s therefore necessary to relocate the Nature Play Park to a new location.

So that we can deliver the expansion of the Pemberton Children’s Centre to the community as soon as possible, site prep earthworks must begin before Winter 2022/23. To allow for this, the existing Nature Play Park will be removed in Spring 2023 and re-installed at the new location at a date yet to be determined.

What else is happening?

The 3 on 3 basketball court and hoop will remain in their current location and open to the public during construction.

The small water pump directly adjacent to the proposed expansion will be revitalized into a toddler water play space.

The Spray Park will remain in its current location and open to the public during the summer months.

When will the expansion be done?

Phase 1 of the project involves the relocation of the Nature Play Park, earth works to preload the site for geotechnical considerations, relocation of an existing BC Hydro Transformer, and preparing utility connections. This phase of the project is expected to be completed in in Spring 2023.

Phase 2 of the project involves on site construction activities including construction of foundations, installing the building modules with a crane, installing the fenced outdoor play area, and completing tie-ins and utility hook ups. This phase of the project is expected to begin in Spring 2023 and be completed in Fall 2023.

Once the new structure receives occupancy permits, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) will complete separate occupancy and licensing inspections and processes to ensure the new facility can be safely operated as a daycare. This process is expected to be completed late in 2023 or early in 2024.