North Island College鈥檚 Comox Valley campus is expanding even more, with a new building hosting more childcare spaces and a centre dedicated to those who focus their education on children.

On Sept. 26 at the campus, Lisa Domae, president and CEO of NIC along with the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville Selina Robinson announced a new centre dedicated to early childhood education and childhood spaces for the Comox Valley.

The $14.2 million two-storey centre (which is funded by the provincial and federal governments) will be an expansion to the current Beaufort Childcare Centre on campus. It will include both classroom space for NIC鈥檚 early childhood care and education programs as well as 75 new childcare spaces.

鈥�(This) allows parents to pursue employment and educational opportunities, and we know that鈥檚 life-changing for families,鈥� says Robinson. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about childcare, it鈥檚 about childhood education and making sure that our educators are trained and capable of doing the work that is really important.鈥�

At NIC, 233 students have graduated from early childhood care and education programs in the last five years, with another 57 having graduated in June 2023. The programs are offered in a variety of different formats, including full-time and part-time.

Amanda Peters, executive co-ordinator with Beaufort Children鈥檚 Centre notes the announcement is exciting as it allows classroom spaces within a childcare centre.

鈥淭he amount of learning that can happen between students just starting in the ECE program and the children in hands-on learning is going to be wonderful.鈥�

The current Beaufort Centre will continue to operate during the expansion. Construction is expected to start in spring 2024, with the goal to have the centre open with the NIC student housing commons in fall 2025.