Since 2021, CFEK has convened a regonal roundtable to encourage East Kootenay-wide collaboration to address the many challenges faced by theregional childcare sector. As a result of this work, CFEK lead a research tudy in 2024, in cooperation with Mitacs and Selkirk Innovates, aimed at documenting the business needs and challenges of childcare providers in the Kootenays. The key issues highlighted were wages and recruitment of staff, as well as business administration. Find out more about the study’s findings here, and in a published journal article.
From this research, the Kootenay Childcare Initiative was developed, of which CFEK is a key partner. The initiative ensures that the Kootenay childcare sector is resilient and well-equipped to provide high-quality care for our children—now and into the future. The project provides business coaching, mentoring, and training for licenced childcare providers and recruitment support and expertise; to fill new or vacant positions. CFEK will continue to take a role in this constructive regional collaboration between local child care providers, public sector organizations, employers, and nonprofit entities to address this critical need. We also continually update a list of Key Resources with more information.