This childcare facility will be the first to open in this office tower

The Block on Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna may have its first open business in the coming months.

A locally owned daycare, ProducKIDvity, has signed a 15 year lease with Mission Group and Nicola Wealth to be one of the first to call The Block on Bernard Ave. home.

“There is a huge need for childcare in our community,” ProducKIDvity Co-Founder and CEO Alex Carnio told Kelowna10. “Being able to fill in some of those gaps is really, really important.”

Their new location will provide over 100 childcare spots including highly sought after infant childcare as well as 3-5 year-old pre-school programming.

The new location will occupy the entire sixth floor and include a 3,500 sq/ft outdoor patio.

ProducKIDvity is also acquiring 4,500 square feet of office space on the seventh floor for co-working and flexible office space to childcare customers and other businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs seeking office space.

The daycare’s Block on Bernard location will be the only childcare facility in Kelowna that will be open six days a week and will offer extended hours from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m..

“We're really trying to cater to those shift worker parents that might not have any family here to support them,” Carnio explained, “as well as people who are looking for a little bit extra when it comes to their childcare.”

The daycare will offer an in-house food program for students and co-workers, as well as a family take home option.

“We want our children to be integrated in our community,” she said. “And being downtown in Central is such a good way to do that.”

They hope to have construction completed and doors open by May, though she acknowledges there could be delays.