Jan. 28, 2010
Four More Strongstart BC Centres Open in Burnaby

BURNABY - Burnaby MLAs Richard T. Lee and Harry Bloy were joined by parents, caregivers and school district staff today to celebrate the official opening of four new StrongStart BC early learning centres at Kitchener Elementary, Stoney Creek Elementary, Chaffey-Burke Elementary and Lochdale Community schools.

"These new StrongStart BC centres build on the success of the program in Burnaby by continuing to provide opportunities for children and their families," said Lee. "As the importance of early childhood learning is well recognized, it's great to see these opportunities for children to develop the tools they need for success in school and in life."

StrongStart BC is a free drop-in early learning program for preschool-aged children accompanied by a parent or caregiver. A qualified early childhood educator leads activities, including stories, music, and arts, to help children grow linguistically, emotionally and socially, and become comfortable in a school-like setting.

All of B.C.'s 60 school districts have been offered the opportunity to participate in the StrongStart BC program. The Province is investing $43 million to expand StrongStart BC, with more than 300 programs now operating across the province. StrongStart BC centres help fulfil government's commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services.

"I remember the joy of reading to my children and helping them get ready for their first days of school," said Bloy. "I've also distributed books to every kindergarten child in my area for the past seven years. I strongly believe in early childhood education and am very pleased that these new StrongStart BC centres in Burnaby will give parents and caregivers in our community even more opportunities to learn about the ways that they can help their children to have a successful start to their education."

The Burnaby school district has received $200,000 for these four StrongStart BC centres. This includes $20,000 to prepare each in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and $30,000 for each centre to fund this year's operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

"We are proud of the district's pioneering work in the area of early learning and are pleased that the government is now supporting these initiatives throughout the province," said Burnaby board of education chair Diana Mumford."

Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.2 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs, almost $15 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the LEAP BC program that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.

Government has committed $151 million over two years to implement full day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available for more than 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010, and for every kindergarten-aged child starting school in 2011.

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