The recognition of the need for expanded day care capacity from both the provincial and federal governments has led to exciting news for Humboldt and Area. A new child care facility is on the way, says Melissa Sand, executive director of the Humboldt Public School Child Care Centre. The organization currently runs two child care facilities, one at the Humboldt Public School and one at St. Augustine School. It’s now poised to open up a third centre at a to be determined location.
“We just learned that we were approved for 40 new child care spaces in Humboldt,” Sand says. “We are going to be expanding more and opening a third place.
Currently the existing centres have room for 56 children and 46 children in addition to spots for children in the before and after school program. The recent joint federal-provincial initiative for child care expansion is at the heart of the approved build, even though the Humboldt Public School Child Care Centre had applied for the facility prior to the funding announcement. The announcement of the funding was made on March 16.
Unlike the other centres, attached to schools, the new one will be a ground up operation, explains Sand.
“We are just figuring out where in Humboldt it should be. We’re just looking at different buildings and land and what’s available to start this. We may buy a building and renovate it, or we may do a new build.”
From the perspective of parents in the area, the announcement of the new centre is welcome. Work opportunities are expanding in the area, and the network of communities with employment in the region means parents are travelling to and from work in many cases.
“We do have a long waiting list, and there are lots of people who need more licensed care, especially as new families move into Humboldt,” explains Sand. “As the provincial government keeps making fees less for parents, it also encourages more parents to use licensed care.”
Programs initiated by the provincial government as of February 1 led to a 50 percent reduction in fees for licensed care, sparking an increased demand.
The provincial government's recent promise of funding for recruitment and retention of qualified staff was also welcomed by Sand. She notes the existing facilities are well staffed with qualified, quality educators. However, with the new centre the demand for staff will increase.
“We’re going to have to see what it looks like when we’re opening up our third site, but hopefully there are more people enrolled in the (ECE education) program and looking to work in this career.”
Sand says it's an exciting venture that will hopefully go a long way to meeting the demand in the community.
Fri, Apr 19, 5:00 PM
Full-time, Hourly, Labour
