March 04, 2021 - 3:20 PM With the recent announcement of new childcare spaces across the province, the executive director of a Central Okanagan childcare nonprofit says it s a drop in the bucket. On March 2, the province announced 448 new childcare spaces for the Central Okanagan including 37 in Kelowna and 81 in Lake Country as part of the Childcare B.C. New Spaces Fund to increase access to childcare in the province. Melissa Hunt, executive director of Childhood Connections Okanagan Family and Childcare Society, said roughly 1,500 spaces are needed each year for the next 10 years to meet the demand for childcare in the area. About 1,100 spaces are needed in Kelowna, 130 in Lake Country, 306 in West Kelowna and 32 spaces in Peachland, she said.