The City of Burnaby has been given the 2012 B.C. Child-Care Award of Excellence in Local Government by the Ministry of Child and Family Development.
The award is for "outstanding commitment and leadership in child-care initiatives," according to a press release from the city.
The award was presented to Coun. Paul McDonell, the chair of the city's social issues committee, at an award ceremony on May 11.
The city owns five child-care centres that provide 232 licensed child care spaces, according to the release, three of which were acquired through the community benefit bonus policy. Non-profit child-care providers run the programs.
"Burnaby is committed to high-quality child care and we are very proud to receive an award that recognizes our success in the development of innovative programs and policies that ensure our children receive the very best in services," Mayor Derek Corrigan said in the release.
The city adopted a child-care policy in 1993, which was established to support the Child Care Resources Group, an advisory body made up of Burnaby child-care providers.
Council makes a proclamation for Child-Care Month every May, and has done so since 2002.
