The Sugarplum Tree Daycare Facility in Peace River received an important visitor from the provincial government on Tuesday.
Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee talks to some of the kids at Sugarplum Tree Daycare as the do finger-painting. (Photo/Peace River Broadcasting)
Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee there to tour the facility, which is one of 22 facilities province-wide to offer a three-year, $25-a-day child-care program.
The Trending 55 Newsroom was also there for the minister’s tour. And she said that she was amazed by what she saw at the facility.
“Peace River did an amazing job in applying for the grant to get on to this program,” said Larivee. “So, the $25-a-day program allows the parents to get access to quality child-care, which is pretty amazing. And from what I hear, it’s already made a huge difference to the families in the region already.”
According to Gayle MacDonald, the facility’s director, says that as of a month and a half ago, there are 153 people currently on a waiting list to get into the program.
“Currently, we can take up to 124 kids at a time,” said MacDonald. “As well, we have nine rooms open right now, and we also have a super-licence to run a pair of after-school programs for kids in Kindergarten to Grade 4, which is completely filled up at 17 students for each program.”
Even still, Larivee says she wishes that more communities can get access to the $25-a-day program, so more parents can have the option to send their kids to daycare.
“We do see this program as a pilot, and we are learning from it,” she said. “As finances permit, we look forward to rolling these out right across the province, so that all families, including those on the wait list, can have access to quality, affordable child care right across the province.”
Being a Northern Alberta MLA herself, she says when it comes to this region, this program allows families an opportunity to remain in the region.
“Quality, affordable and accessible child care means that families have the support that they need in order to live here, and raise their families here,” said Larivee. “So, this program is really important to the economic and social development of the north, and I’m proud of the work that our government is doing in order to make this happen.”
Larivee playing a colour guessing game with one of the kids at the daycare in Peace River. (Photo/Peace River Broadcasting)
Other childcare facilities in the Peace Country offering this program include the Child’s World Day Care Centre in Fairview, as well as the Children’s Demonstration Preschool in Grande Prairie.
Peace River MLA Debbie Jabbour says that she eventually hopes to see a similar program operating up in High Level.
“I think that the word needs to get out in the north that these types of options are available in the north,” said Jabbour. “Right now, there actually is a desperate need for a program like this in High Level, and when the people know that the government is moving in that direction, more communities will request this type of facility for their area.”
Also while she was up there, Larivee also paid a visit to the Peace River Parent Link located in the downtown area.
“These type of facilities provides opportunities for parents to meet other parents, and learn about what it is to be a parent,” she says. “It also encourages the children to get out, and to engage in activities that help them with their development.”
She adds that she’s very proud of the programs that Parent Links across the province continue to put on.
“It’s incredibly important to invest early in our families in order to provide them the support that they need to be healthy right from the start,” said Larivee. “Those kinds of early intervention activities are a high priority for our government, and so, instead of waiting for families to fall apart and need assistance, we have the program to provide that support up front, and make sure that their children have the support that they need.”
– Posted by BET
