Investing in childcare and future generations.
Capilano University’s new Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies expands on-campus childcare, enhances early childhood education, and fosters community growth, supported by a $150,000 contribution from Canfor.
Canfor is committed to enhancing and investing in the communities where we live and work. A big part of that commitment is consistently investing in initiatives that will create a lasting, positive impact.
Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies
On April 23, 2025, Capilano University (CapU) officially opened the doors to the Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies, the new home for the School of Education and Childhood Studies, and a second childcare facility on the main campus in North Vancouver.
The groundbreaking 23,000 square-foot two-story facility adds 74 new childcare spaces—for a total of 143 on-campus spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers—to the existing 69 at the current not-for-profit Children’s Centre which is ran by the University and licensed by Vancouver Coastal Health. The Centre also doubles the current practicum placements for early childhood educators (ECE’s), offering 2,135 square meters of new studio space, study and research labs, classrooms and faculty offices
As western Canada’s only purpose-designed, integrated early childhood care and education centre, the new building brings together researchers, students, educators and children under one roof to advance early years research, education and innovation. Aside from enhancing the student learning experience, it provides an extraordinary step forward in strengthening our entire community. It supports economic growth and fosters social inclusion. It also ensures that young children arrive at school ready to learn and creates a meaningful site for early childhood education.
For the children, each classroom is separated by age group. However, all classrooms are adjoined by transparent walls, with the intention of creating one single space where children can intermix. This offers the children a space where they can collaborate, removing the barrier between age groups. The hope is that the children here can fully utilize the space while allowing future educators to better understand a child’s way of thinking.
Our contribution to the Centre
In 2022, through Canfor’s Good Things Come From Trees community giving program, $150,000 was pledged to support the construction and development of the Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies.
Graduates of Capilano University’s Early Childhood Education programs are employed in early learning and childcare programs throughout the province and the success of the new Centre will help provide economic security for families and communities across BC.
We hope the Centre plays a role in decreasing the cost of living and removing barriers to education for BC’s next generation of workers, innovators and leaders.
Scholarships and bursaries
Alongside the donation to the Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies, Canfor’s Good Things Come From Tree’s program contributed an additional $150,000 towards scholarships and bursaries through multi-year agreements with three leading post-secondary institutions across BC and Alberta that offer world-class Early Childhood Education training opportunities.
Dating back to 2022, Canfor pledged $50,000 to three separate schools: the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, College of the Rockies in the Kootenays, and Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie to provide a total of 37 bursary and scholarship awards for students in early learning and childcare programs. The funding will accelerate the training of qualified early childhood educators and support their journey to becoming skilled professionals.
Canfor recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of childcare workers in BC. We are happy to have contributed in a way that lays the foundation to build healthy communities while removing barriers to education for British Columbia’s next generation of workers, innovators and leaders.
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