A new facility at North Island College’s Comox Valley campus will help train future early childhood educators while providing more childcare spaces for local families.

NIC joined K’ómoks First Nation, the Beaufort Children’s Centre and other community partners on September 25 to celebrate the opening of the new Centre of Excellence in Learning.

“One of NIC’s strategic goals is to expand childcare spaces and early childhood care and education programming,” said Lisa Domae, NIC President and CEO.

“By working with the Province and partners like the Beaufort Children’s Centre and K’ómoks First Nation, we can proudly say we are providing more options for parents and helping meet demand for early childhood educators in British Columbia. Through this project, NIC is working to build healthy and thriving communities, one student at a time.”

The facility includes additional space for the Beaufort Children’s Centre, creating 75 new childcare spaces on campus. Those are in addition to the centre’s existing 53 spaces.

Priority for the new spaces will be given first to NIC students with children, followed by college faculty and staff.

The centre will also provide new hands-on learning opportunities for students enrolled in NIC’s Early Childhood Care and Education program.

Students will be able to learn alongside children and experienced educators from the Beaufort Children’s Centre as part of their training.

K’ómoks First Nation was involved throughout the project, helping guide the design of the building and its site.

The First Nation also gifted the centre the traditional name qʷənɛs, an Ayajuthem word meaning “whale.”

The name references the culturally significant Queneesh Glacier and its connection to the K’ómoks people.

For more information, visit North Island College.