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A childcare challenge facing families in the community has prompted the Town of Banff to look at opening up more areas of town where daycares are allowed.
Council passed first reading of a bylaw on Monday (June 23) to allow daycares as a discretionary use in additional land use districts and set a public hearing for July 28 to get resident input.
Town of Banff officials say potential operators are currently limited to certain districts when looking for available locations to house a daycare operation.
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Finding suitable childcare was one of the primary challenges that parents identified in Banff’s 2023 community social assessment.
This was backed up in the 2024 childcare needs assessment that highlighted challenges with lack of childcare spaces, lengthy waitlists and costs that are taking a toll on local families.
That report, which was released in April, called for more childcare spaces by evaluating existing resources and facilities, optimizing current space, and exploring creative expansion opportunities.