Changes are coming to the Parksville Community Centre (PCC).
The City of Parksville will enter into a five-year lease agreement with BGC Central Vancouver Island (BGCCVI) to operate a portion of the building as the BGCCVI Parksville Child and Family Centre and manage community use of the PCC.
The city issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) on Nov. 10 for renovations to the facility, as outlined in the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund grant. During the Nov. 15 meeting, council rose and reported its direction to have staff post the RFEI on BC Bid and the city’s website.
It will retain the Emergency Management Oceanside offices and an expanded meeting space on the Jensen Avenue side of the building, according to a release from the city. The remainder of the PCC will be operated by BGCCVI as a full-time child and family centre, including 91 new daycare spaces and programs for different age groups, family supports, outdoor recreation space and buses to facilitate daycare activities.
The PCC is scheduled to open for programs in summer 2022 with full opening of the 91 licensed childcare spaces the following September, along with community access to the centre, according to the city.
Council approved an Oct. 2020 resolution to work with BGCCVI to provide new licensed childcare and associated programs. The city’s agreement with the Parksville Community Centre Society (PCCS) to operate the building expired on Dec. 31, 2020.
The city and BGCCVI signed a letter of intent in October 2020 and together submitted a grant application to fund a licensed childcare facility. The provincial government informed the city in May that it would be awarded a $2,034,829 grant to complete renovations to the PCC.
In March 2021, Parksville council announced an agreement with Island Health to lease the PCC from mid-March through September as a COVID immunization site. Timelines were adjusted to allow the use of the PCC as a regional vaccine clinic for a six-month period.
The city said the facility will continue to be used as a vaccine clinic for COVID-19 immunizations for children and the city, BGCCVI and Island Health are working together to balance safe access to the building with the renovation schedule.
As required under the community charter, notice of intent to lease the property will be posted on the city’s website and published in the PQB News.
