May 27, 2010
Kootenay Lake Early Learning on the Rise

KOOTENAY LAKE - Early learning opportunities for communities in North Kootenay Lake are now better than ever, thanks to a second Kootenay Lake StrongStart BC Outreach program, Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid announced today.

"The StrongStart BC Outreach program brings vital early learning opportunities to children, parents and caregivers in B.C.'s smallest communities," said MacDiarmid. "Play-based early learning programs are proven to have long-term benefits for the academic and social development of our youngest learners."

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 310 now operating across the province. StrongStart BC centres help fulfil government's commitment to use underutilized school district space to deliver early learning services.

The Kootenay Lake school district has received $50,000 for its StrongStart BC Outreach program that works out of Jewett Elementary school in Meadow Creek and J.V. Humphries Elementary/Secondary school in Kaslo. This includes $20,000 to prepare in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials and $30,000 to fund this year's operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

"Early learning initiatives have such a tremendous impact on our youngest learners. That's why we are so pleased with the opening of a StrongStart BC Outreach program in the North Kootenay Lake area," said Kootenay Lake board chair Bill Maslechko. "Making these important programs available to our small communities will allow all children to access the resources that are so vital to building early learning and literacy skills."

Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.4 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs, almost $18 million to operate the kindergarten-readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the LEAP BC resources that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.

Government has committed $280 million over three years to implement full day kindergarten for all five-year-olds in B.C. Full day kindergarten will be available for 50 per cent of kindergarten students in 2010 and for every five-year-old starting school in 2011.

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