Merritt and the Nicola Valley
A safe, welcoming place for your child to grow
Licensed childcare, after school programs, and family support, all in one building on Quilchena Avenue. Run by a local non-profit that has been part of this community since 1978.
Registered charity
Ages 0 to 12
Help with subsidy forms
1978
Serving Merritt and the Nicola Valley
0–12
Ages we care for, infants through school age
76
Licensed childcare spaces
100%
Of funds reinvested in local services
Our programs
Support that follows your family
Four program areas, one building, one local team. Every program is built around what a child can already do rather than what they cannot.
Childcare
Quality licensed care at The Family Place, with infant, toddler, multi-age, and after school spaces. Staff are licensed in Early Childhood Education, First Aid, and Food Safe.
See childcareFamily Support
Support for parents and foster parents, help with communication and problem solving, family mediation when parents and teens are struggling to talk, and skill-based parenting groups.
See family supportSpecialized Support
Behavioural support, development, and skill building for children and youth who need extra help, one to one or in a group, at the centre or out in the community. Includes our Autism program.
See specialized supportYouth Support
A safe place after school for sports and games, creative arts, homework help, and building the confidence that carries into the teen years.
See youth support
1914 Quilchena Avenue
Room to grow, right downtown
Our building was designed around how children actually move through a day. Everything a family needs is under one roof, a short walk from the centre of Merritt.
- Covered outdoor play area, usable in rain, snow, and summer heat
- Licensed for 76 childcare spaces, infants through school age
- Childcare, family support, and youth programs in one place
How we got here
Nearly fifty years of showing up
MYFRS has been registered under the Societies Act since 1978. What started as a handful of childcare spaces has grown into a centre serving families across Merritt and the Nicola Valley, run by a board of local volunteers and staffed by people who live here.
This short film was made in 2022, at our previous location on Coutlee Avenue, before the move to Quilchena. The building has changed. The work has not.
Read our full storyHow we work
What families can expect from us
Respect
We believe in the inherent worth of each individual, and we view every member of the community as equal in value.
Empathy
Everyone has the ability to share in the feelings of another person's journey. We offer strength as we listen and connect with what families are carrying.
Collaboration
Individual voices need to be heard and respected in decision making. Goals are set in a meeting where the family is present, not decided for them.
Childcare spaces
Ask about a space for your child
Tell us a little about your family and we'll call you back to talk about what's available and what the wait looks like. There's no cost and no obligation.
Prefer to talk now? Call 250-378-4878. We can also help you complete your childcare subsidy forms.