Ground was broken here on the Wellington Place Childcare and Learning Centre on Sept. 14.
The County of Wellington has been granted $2.08 million from the Ministry of Education to open the facility in 2019. The new facility on county-owned land will be operated by the county’s Children’s Early Years Division, and will create 64 new child care spaces for children up to four years old.
County councillor David Anderson, chair of the social services committee, noted the centre is close to a number of Centre Wellington’s larger employers, “so they will have easy access to this facility for dropping off their kids.”
Anderson also noted the centre will be within walking distance of Wellington Place amenities such as the county museum and archives, Aboyne library, Wellington OPP office, Wellington Terrace, walking and nature trails, and the new Groves hospital, which is expected to be open in about 18 months.
“Overall this new centre will be the ideal location, where the children will be surrounded by learning opportunities and parents will have access to adequate, high-qualify, flexible care for their young children while they work,” said Anderson.
“The County of Wellington looks forward to addressing the need for more child care facilities like this one in our region.”
Senator Rob Black congratulated county council and the Children’s Early Years Division for putting the project together.
“The work that you’ve done to get ready for this is tremendous. I know that, and it’s exciting. It’s exciting for the county and it’s exciting for Centre Wellington,” said Black.
“I certainly look forward to the build over the coming months and to watching you cut the ribbon when it’s open.”
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott Wellington County residents enjoy outstanding local government services “and our quality of life just keeps getting better and better.
“Our communities are growing. We already have countless young families, and more are coming. Our people are working, and because we have a loyal and skilled workforce as well as many other advantages, our economic development will continue.”
Calling the day “really, really exciting,” Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton said, “There’s no better town for this awesome facility to be built than Centre Wellington.”
Linton added, “Having the space here … between Fergus and Elora is huge and this is going to be a support to families for years and years and years to come.”
Linton thanked Children and Early Years Division director Luisa Artuso for her efforts and the county “for always being proactive with facilities like this.”
“Not only does licensed child care promote and support economic viability, it’s also a special place that can influence the future of our society,” said Artuso.
“The children that we care for are our future police officers, our future medical practitioners our scholars and those who will take care of us in the future and they will be our future makers of history. In that respect it can have an impact on everyone here, not just the families with young children.”
Artuso said the centre will put youngsters “in the hands of child development professionals who will facilitate learning and care for children in line with the latest research.”
The centre will give priority to residents of Wellington for available spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. An online application process is available through the Children’s Early Years Division portal on the county’s website.
Artuso told the Advertiser about 45 potential clients had signed up as of Sept. 14.
