Nanaimo childcare deficit creating a 'crisis', advocate says in wake of report

Nanaimo's 2025 State of the Child Report suggests the region is experiencing a childcare deficit, with not nearly enough spaces to meet the need.

The report was undertaken by the Nanaimo Early Years Partnership, comprised of members from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, Island Health, City of Nanaimo and Vancouver Island University as well as Indigenous, multicultural and children's welfare organizations. It examined challenges in local services, using statistics collected from 2020-24.

Cheryl Booth, Nanaimo Child Development Centre executive director, said childcare "is in crisis in the community."

"We wanted to share that we are a really fast-growing community in Nanaimo and we are not meeting the needs of this growth," Booth said. "It's getting harder to find quality childcare and I