The creation of a new child care centre at Orchard Commons Residence was approved by the Property Committee on their September 13 meeting.
The preliminary capital budget of $5,750,000 was also approved with construction to begin in April 2025.
The new centre was originally planned to be built in conjunction with the Sauder School of Business Power House Expansion, but was shifted due to concerns around available outdoor space. The Sauder expansion would have included up to 50 new spaces, while Orchard Commons can only accommodate 28. The project will continue to be funded by the Sauder Expansion Project fund, as well as the Childcare BC New Spaces fund and Student Housing and Community Services.
During the meeting, Governor Anna Kindler said “when I looked at the number, I could not help but feel disappointed … childcare provision is critically important to us being able to recruit and retain members of the academic community.”
She raised concern over the traffic and safety issues the new child care centre might create. A sentiment Student Governor Kareem Hassib also raised.
“How is that going to work without [the child care centre] becoming like a massive choke point for traffic along West Mall, which is already between both first year residences … there is already a ton of traffic [there] in the morning,” said Hassib.
Frank Laezza, UBC VP finance and operations, said safety was considered and this was the best site in terms of design and would accommodate the outdoor space needed for child care.
The new child care spaces are part of the UBC Child Care Expansion Plan, which aims to add 1,200 available childcare spaces by 2041.
In a statement to The Ubyssey, Graduate Student Society President Sam Kenston wrote "this is a significant development for parents on campus, especially graduate students who often face unique challenges in balancing their academic pursuit with parenting responsibilities.”
Kenston also hopes to see UBC prioritize graduate students in need of child care, as faculty members may have options for private child care.
"It can alleviate some of the stress and barriers that parents, including graduate students, face in accessing quality child care services ... [it] contributes to their well-being but also enables them to focus on their studies and research more effectively."
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