Langford announces new child care and community youth wellness centre

This week, the City of Langford announced a new community facility focused on expanding access to licensed child care. 

The two-storey building, located at 2805 Carlow Road, will also provide a permanent home for Foundry West Shore, an organization who provide health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 24.  

Initially, the building was planned as a six-storey, 40-unit affordable housing project. However, due to a shift in provincial funding the project pivoted, which created the opportunity for the Foundry to move in. 

Foundry is a branch of Thrive Social Services Society, which has been searching for an appropriate space for their program for over two years.

“These spaces uplift families and young people by bringing child care and youth services together in one welcoming location,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. 

“Parents can now benefit from access to reliable care closer to home. Foundry services support youth with the health and wellness services they need most. Projects like this help build healthier, more connected communities where children and families can thrive.”

The site for this development is currently home to the Centennial Center for Arts, which will be moving in early 2027 to a new child care and arts facility currently under construction at 3014 Glen Lake Road. 

Construction on the Foundry facility will begin in early 2027, allowing the Centennial Center for Arts to remain operational until the end of 2026.

This project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2028.

The BC government provided $7,160,600 in grant funding to establish 73 child care spaces, with additional support coming from provincial investments and federal funding.

The City of Langford will fund the building shell and onsite works with Thrive Social Services Society entering into a long-term lease. Over the life of the lease, the City says it will be made whole on the investment.