Cariboo Child Care Society (CCCS) is an independent, charitable, non-profit society that has been located on the campus Thompson Rivers University for almost 50 years. CCCS will be celebrating their 50 year anniversary on August 14th 2023
All enrolled families become society members during the period their children attend our programs. Each family is entitled to one vote at the Annual General Meeting held each fall.
CCCS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that is comprised of parents, TRU Faculty, TRU Representatives and members of the community. The board meets on a regular basis and conducts all business related to the administration and operations of the Society.
In 1973 Faculty members registered to open a non- profit organization to serve the childcare needs for families on campus. An agreement for the use of on campus land was created with the board of Cariboo College, later known as the University College of the Cariboo and later still, as Thompson Rivers University. This generous agreement significantly reduced the financial burden upon the Society.
The first building, purchased in 1973, was financed by a government grant and a bank loan – signed by two of the founding Society board members. Childcare for children aged 3-5 years old became a reality.
In 1988, the college was able to loan a small adjacent building to the Society to house a much needed service for toddlers. At the same time the Society pioneered a program for children with exceptionalities, offering full integration supported by one-on-one specialized programming. As childcare for children with exceptionalities changed through the years CCCS followed best practice and moved to using outreach community-based models where therapists and medical professionals provide service to children in their familiar environment. This service has grown to be known as Supported Child Development and CCCS continues to partner with families and Supported Child Development to provide inclusive care to all children to the best of our ability.
In 1993, again, after a lot of hard work on the part of a Building Committee comprised of staff, Cariboo College Faculty and Administration Personnel as well as CCCS Board members, a new childcare building was constructed. Capital funding was granted by the ministry of Advanced Education, Training & Technology, and the Ministry of Women’s Equality. This enabled the Society to utilize the original childcare building for a School Aged Child Program while providing services in the new building for families of children from 8 weeks old- 5 years of age.
Through the years Cariboo Child Care Society has grown and endeavored to meet the community childcare needs by developing programs and increasing available childcare spaces. In May 2021 the Society purchased a school age program called Beyond the Bell and we now offer care to 24 children aged 5-12 years.
More recently, CCCS partnered with TRU to expand on campus services and relocated to a remodeled building in September 2022. The new building received partial funding through the Ministry of Family and Child Development’s Creation of New Spaces Fund and has allowed CCCS to open twelve new infant spaces. Twenty-four 3-5 year old spaces are set t open imminently. The new building is located in the same building as the TRU Early Childhood Education Program, the Early Childhood Education Research Program and the Children and the Law Laboratory.