NIC announces plans for Centre of Excellence in Early Learning

North Island College has announced plans to develop a Centre of Excellence in Early Learning, thanks to a $14.2M investment from the Government of British Columbia. The two-storey centre will expand upon NIC’s Comox Valley Beaufort Centre, adding classroom space for its early childhood care programs and 75 new childcare spaces. “We know there is a critical demand for childcare spaces across the region, and we’ve heard from providers that one of the biggest barriers to opening more spaces is finding qualified early childhood educators,” said NIC Dean, Faculty of Health & Human Services Kathleen Haggith. “This project will allow us to address both of these critical community issues.” Construction on the centre is anticipated to begin in Spring 2024, with the aim of opening the centre by Fall 2025.