June 11, 2015
Province Announces New Child-care Centre at Donwood Elementary School Will Benefit Families in Northeast Winnipeg
– – –Manitoba Continues to Build, Invest in Quality, Publicly Accessible Child-care Centres in Schools Throughout the Province: Premier Selinger
Families in northeast Winnipeg will have greater access to high-quality, affordable child care in their community through the Family Choices Building Fund, Premier Greg Selinger announced today at Donwood Elementary School in northeast Winnipeg.
“Early childhood education provides the foundation for a good start in life, and quality child care is good for the economy and good for parents since it gives them the option to go back to work or return to school,” said Premier Selinger. “Our government continues to build and support one of the best and most affordable child-care systems in Canada. I am happy to announce we are investing in a new child-care centre at Donwood Elementary School.”
Donwood Elementary School is a kindergarten to Grade 5 school that currently houses a licensed school-age facility operated by Laugh ‘N’ Learn School Age Centre Inc. that accommodates 43 children. The new 6,000-sq.-ft. centre will accommodate 20 infant spaces and 54 pre-school spaces, the premier said, adding this new centre is part of the province’s five-year, $25-million plan to create new child-care spaces.
“Facilitating the building of child-care in schools is a great way to support families,” said Susan Prentice, professor of sociology, University of Manitoba. “It brings two formerly separate systems – care and education – closer together, and it means the public resources of schools, such as their libraries, gyms, and playgrounds, are used year-around by children in their communities.”
The premier noted that over the last 15 years, the Manitoba government has created more than 14,000 new spaces, bringing the total number of spaces to almost 30,000 and invested in renovating and creating more than 100 new child-care centres. There are currently 300 child-care centres in schools in communities throughout the province.
“We are excited the Manitoba government is providing the funding needed to construct a new child-care centre in River East Transcona School Division (RETSD). We know the critical role these centres play for working parents, and for the children themselves, who benefit from that very early learning that prepares them for entry into kindergarten,” said Colleen Carswell, chair, board of trustees RETSD.
“Child-care centres in schools ensure children move seamlessly between child care and school, and the Manitoba government is committed to supporting families by creating more capacity within the educational system to care for young children,” said Premier Selinger.
The province will continue to work with parents, education leaders and child-care partners to ensure high-quality child care continues to be accessible and affordable for all Manitoba families, the premier said.
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