Families on the child care waitlist in the Kennebecasis Valley may soon have some relief.

A new 70-seat child care facility is being proposed along Millennium Drive in Quispamsis.

It is a partnership between the YMCA of Greater Saint John and Shannex.

Mika Edison, the YMCA’s child care manager, said the new spaces are needed.

“There’s a waitlist of over 800 families in the province right now looking for care, and we’ll have at least 12 infant spaces, which will make a huge difference,” Edison told town council this week.

Edison said the YMCA plans to employ at least 20 people at the new location.

The location, according to a submission to council, will also provide intergenerational programs that engage Shannex residents.

As part of the organization’s five-year strategic plan, the YMCA of Greater Saint John wants to add 240 child care spaces in four new centres, including the Quispamsis location.

The YMCA said the Quispamsis building would not require any expansion or construction on the exterior to accommodate the daycare.

“We will utilize the parking lot already on site [and] the Play Yard will be to the back of the building which is already levelled,” said the council submission.

Edison said they have no plans to alter their existing Quispamsis programming at the qplex, adding they also want to look at adding more after-school spaces in the town.

Town council will hold a public hearing on the proposed child care facility on Jan. 16.

The site of a proposed 70-seat child care facility in Quispamsis. Image: © 2023 Google