The LeRoy daycare has been a dream for over three years.
Now they are getting a portion of the nearly $41 million in funding provided through the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning Child Care Agreement.
The 15 space child care centre is going to be a part of a multi-generational facility as part of the Evergreen Country Home with an unused six room wing being renovated for their needs, says board chairperson, Kim Block.
They have been applying for funding through the program for the past three years and are very excited to finally receive the funding.
While the LeRoy Daycare was going to go forward either way, this saves the board much needed fundraising to complete the project.
They are happy with the support they have received from the community, says Block, but this saves them from raising money for the building and trying to subsidize child care costs.
There is a big need for child care in LeRoy, says Block, with their location being one of the few in the area that offers infant care.
“We can take kids starting at 6 weeks. Lots of day cares around the area don’t have that or if they do, spots are full right off the start.”
The Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning Child Care Agreement was announced on March 16, 2018 with 1,015 licensed child care centre spaces available at the time of the agreement. The Government of Saskatchewan has already committed 600 spaces in communities across the province, including LeRoy, Prince Albert, Yorkton, and Nipawin.
“Affordable, high-quality child care allows parents to work or attend school knowing that their children are being cared for in a safe and nurturing environment,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said in a recent press release. “We are pleased to inform communities across the province they will be receiving funding for additional child care spots. We are thrilled our children will be having fun and learning in these facilities in the near future.”
The board is hoping to open the day care by late fall but that now depends on renovation time, says Block.
