ERIN – A grand opening was held on Feb. 21 for a new child care centre at Erin Public School that provides 49 full-time spaces, including 10 for infants.
Erin Y Child Care actually opened on Dec. 3, but leaders from the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) and county made it official with a ribbon cutting last week.
The centre, which will also have 15 toddler spaces and 24 preschool spaces, is operated by YMCA-YWCA of Guelph.
A new EarlyON centre, a separate facility opening next door in March, will be operated by the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington.
“This is an amazing place,” said Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton.
“We know how important child care is to our families. Participation of women in the labour force is good for the economy, and accountable, high-quality child care is great for the kids.”
He said the centre will help with the labour force issue by addressing the lack of reliable, high-quality infant spaces.
“Centres like this one support jobs and investment, contribute to increased family income and helps reduce child poverty.”
County social services committee chair David Anderson said locating child care within existing schools supports the transition to full-day learning, makes services easier for parents to understand, improves access and participation in programs for families and allows new investment to build on existing facilities.
He thanked the provincial government, which provided just over $1 million through the Ministry of Education for the building retrofit, plus operating funds (administered by county social services), as part of a plan to expand child care.
Funding will also continue for the EarlyON facility, with drop-in programs and play groups for kids up to age 6 offered by registered early childhood educators – formerly provided by East Wellington Community Services at All Saints Anglican Church.
“That together has provided the Town of Erin with an optimal services delivery model,” said Anderson.
Acting Erin mayor John Brennan said engagement with residents showed that families in Erin were interested in more integrated services to support their children’s development.
He said the new set-up will be a “one-stop shop” that will minimize transition time. The Erin Public School building had excess space since it was previously a high school, and because of lower enrolment.
“This provides an efficient and effective use of school resources during a time that we certainly hope will be a short-term decline in student enrolments in our town,” Brennan said.
“Efficient and effective are words that you often hear from our provincial government. Perhaps they should look closely at what’s happening here in the Town of Erin and the County of Wellington as they go forward with their review of rural school issues.”
UGDSB chair Linda Busuttil thanked the Ministry of Education for the funding, which was approved in 2017.
“This will be the first licensed centre in the area to offer child care spaces for infants, which is much needed in our communities,” she said. Busuttil added the location is excellent because it is “accessible, near recreation facilities and close to potential future residential growth.”
The county supports 60 child care centres with operating grants that help offset fees for parents.
