Quick facts
- Opened: autumn 2023
- Operator: YMCA of Southern Interior BC
- Land: provided by YLW and the City of Kelowna on a long-term lease
- Government funding: approximately $6.3 million (combined provincial and federal) through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund
- Lead private partner: KF Aerospace, the Central Okanagan’s largest private-sector employer
- Status: since expanded, reflecting continued demand
How the airport childcare idea started?
The idea grew out of a shared view that childcare had become a critical need, for families and for employers, across the airport campus and the broader community.
The conversation actually started with KF Aerospace, the Central Okanagan’s largest private-sector employer, based right here at YLW. They had identified childcare as an important way to better support and retain its workforce. In an industry already feeling the pressure of labour shortages, we at YLW saw how important it was to help airport employees stay in the workforce.
At the same time, the City of Kelowna, the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada were also focused on expanding childcare options in the community. So very quickly, the conversation shifted from whether this was needed to how we could work together to make it happen.
What makes an airport a good fit for on-site childcare?
A project like this needs several things in place: demonstrated demand, strong leadership, available land, trusted partners, and a shared view that childcare is both a social support and an economic enabler.
The project really shows what is possible when community partners and all levels of government work together toward a common goal.
A private investment from KF Aerospace was supported by a combined provincial and federal contribution of approximately $6.3 million through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, delivered in partnership with the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to enable the creation and expansion of onsite childcare at YLW. YLW contributed the land and entered into a triparty operating agreement with the YMCA of Southern Interior BC and KF Aerospace.
Having a trusted, experienced provider of high-quality early childhood education and care is also integral to success. With its strong commitment to community, inclusion and family well-being, the YMCA of Southern Interior BC has been the ideal operating partner.
How the partnership came together?
KF Aerospace was instrumental in bringing all partners together in the development of this facility.
They recognised how important childcare is in supporting employees and strengthening the local aviation sector. Each of the partners had a vested interest and what made the partnership work was a shared purpose. No one organisation could have delivered this alone, but together we were able to create lasting value for families, employers and the community. It is a powerful example of what can happen when public, private and non-profit partners align around a real need.
How the funding model was pulled together?
This required intentional collaboration and careful coordination. Early on, KF Aerospace and the YMCA were working through the grant funding process, and it became clear that having a municipality serve as the applicant would unlock additional funding and make the project more viable.
Bringing all the pieces together was possible because we shared a clear understanding that our community needed this. That behind-the-scenes work was essential. It turned a strong community need and shared vision into a funded, deliverable project. Combined with KF Aerospace’s private-sector commitment, YLW’s role in providing the site, and the YMCA’s strength as an operating partner, it created a model in which public, private, and non-profit contributions could align around a common goal.
Serving the wider community, not just one employer
That wider campus impact is one of the most important parts of the story. The childcare facility was never envisioned as serving only one employer. It was designed to support families working across the airport campus, while also serving the surrounding community.
That matters because it reflects the way airports actually function: through a network of partners, tenants, operators and service providers who all depend on a stable workforce.
By creating quality childcare close to work, the facility helps reduce one of the biggest stress points for young families. It gives parents more confidence and convenience, and it helps employers across the campus compete for talent in a tight labour market. In that sense, the facility is both a family support and a shared economic asset.
Fitting the rhythms of airport life
While the facility currently operates during standard childcare hours, its on-site location offers a unique benefit for airport workers: it allows parents to keep their children close during the workday. Drop-off is easier, the transition into work is smoother, and for many families there is real comfort in knowing they are only a short walk away. That proximity can make everyday moments possible, including the chance to connect at lunch or be nearby if needed, which is incredibly meaningful for working parents.
Measuring impact on recruitment and retention
Some of the impact can be measured in traditional ways: interest from employees, waitlist demand, feedback from families, and the role the facility plays in conversations about recruitment and retention. But some of the most important impacts are felt in human terms.
When parents know their children are close by, in a high-quality and trusted environment, that creates peace of mind. It reduces stress, strengthens connection to the workplace, and can make it easier for people to remain in or return to the workforce. For employers across the airport campus, that matters.
Over time, we believe this kind of amenity strengthens employee satisfaction, supports workforce participation, and helps make YLW and the broader airport community a more attractive place to build a career. The recent expansion of the facility is itself a strong signal that the need is real and that the value is being recognised.
Advice for airports considering a similar project
I’d say this: start with what your community genuinely needs, and be willing to think a little differently about the role an airport can play. Airports are gateways, yes—but they’re also workplaces, economic engines and important parts of the communities they serve. If a childcare gap is affecting your workforce, that absolutely belongs in the airport conversation.
I’d also say you don’t have to do it alone. Projects like this only happen through partnership, and in many cases, the right partners are closer than you think—local government, employers, non-profit operators and senior levels of government all have a role to play. It takes persistence, creativity and a willingness to build something new together, but the result can be incredibly meaningful.
For us, this initiative was a reminder that airport leadership isn’t only about infrastructure and air service—it’s also about people. When you invest in families, you’re investing in the long-term strength, resilience and inclusiveness of your airport community. And just as importantly, it can help spark an interest in aviation from a very young age.
FAQs
What is the Kelowna Airport YMCA Child Care Centre? An on-site childcare facility at Kelowna International Airport (YLW), opened in autumn 2023 for airport staff and the surrounding community, and one of the first of its kind at a North American airport.
Who operates the centre? The YMCA of Southern Interior BC operates the facility.
How was the centre funded? A private investment from KF Aerospace was combined with approximately $6.3 million in provincial and federal funding through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. YLW and the City of Kelowna provided the land on a long-term lease.
Who are the main partners? KF Aerospace, Kelowna International Airport (YLW), the City of Kelowna, the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, and the YMCA of Southern Interior BC.
Why did KF Aerospace push for on-site childcare? As the Central Okanagan’s largest private-sector employer, KF Aerospace identified childcare as key to supporting and retaining staff amid aviation labour shortages.
Does the centre serve only KF Aerospace employees? No. It serves families across the airport campus, including other tenants and operators, as well as the surrounding community.
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