To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:

The petition of the undersigned, Support group for Childhood Connections Okanagan Family & Childcare Society of Kelowna BC, states that:

The imminent closure of Childhood Connections Okanagan Family & Child Services is not just the shutting down of a building, but the loss of an essential lifeline for countless families and childcare providers in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Childhood Connections has been instrumental in providing community assistance and referrals for childcare services for over the past 40years. It has served as a beacon of support for those who need it most. With its closure, we stand to lose this crucial support system that has become integral to our daily lives.

Just 2 years ago Childhood Connections invested over $500,000 to build a new, centrally located Chid Care and Resources Referral Centre to meet the growing need for wrap around supports for families in Kelowna. This facility contains a large community kitchen, an extensive toy lending library that is used by both families and daycare providers, and a drop in childcare facility to serve families who struggle to find full time daycare, families who have been turned away by other daycare providers or families that need intermittent flexibility to meet their work schedules. This allows parents to remain in the workforce.

Moreover, local childcare providers are set to loose one of their major hubs for resources, education and information related to childcare. This includes upcoming workshops that equip childcare providers with the necessary skills and knowledge - tools they use every day to nurture the future generation.

The impact on our community cannot be overstated; this is about preserving vital services that contribute significantly towards early child development and supports strong families in Kelowna.

Your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House: 

1) To fund Childhood Connections with the 3 year contract in order

• To operate as the main hub for childcare providers, providing resources and education which has been gained in their 40years of experience
• To maintain and provide the Toy Lending Library that has been essential to families and childcare providers
• To provide fee-less drop-in daycare within Childhood Connections 

2) Reconsider policy around RFP's that dismantles long-standing, well-established community services often resulting in awarding contracts to contractors with little or no experience, no transition plan, an unrealistic timeframe for shutting down old services and the startup of new services resulting in children and families being left unsupported. Rather, mandate Ministeries to reach out to the communities to build onto and expand existing services therefore building stronger communities and consistent services for children and families.