Local volunteers have been planning and fundraising for a stand-alone daycare in Elm Creek for around twenty years, and it appears that all of their hard work is finally paying off.
After many years of fundraising and applying for grants, the Elm Creek Stay N Play Build Committee has finally received the government funding required to allow construction to begin on the new stand-alone facility in Elm Creek.
The new daycare facility will be built on the east side of the Elm Creek School and will increase its licensed spaces by 24, for a total of 40 spaces (8 infant and 32 preschool).
The government funding coming in is $1,233,426.55 (60% of the estimated build cost), which the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is providing. The remaining costs will be covered by the money already raised by the community and a small mortgage that the committee plan to pay off as soon as possible.
The benefits of the new daycare include not only having more space but also the school having its classroom back, the children and staff having designated areas for age-specific activities, nap areas, and their own bathrooms. The outside green space can be used at all times and not have to run on the elementary school schedule. The facility can also be open on days that the school is closed.
“These were all previous struggles with having the daycare within the school,” said Karla Last, Chair of the Elm Creek Stay N Play Build Committee. “We very much appreciate the school division for allowing us to operate within the school, as it was always supposed to be temporary and took much longer than anyone had ever imagined, I’m sure, but I think it’s safe to say that everyone involved will be happy with the location change.”
Per funding protocol, the committee will be going to tender using the online platform Merx as soon as they get it all set up.
“We encourage any and all local trades to bid if they can,” said Last. “We know the community has supported this project for so long and we want it to benefit as many of those local business owners who have supported us along the way.”
Construction is slated to begin as soon as possible, and the hope is to open up the new daycare by the end of the year or early 2025.
“The work isn’t over yet, but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Last. “We have plans to make a final push on fundraising this year and next to hopefully pay off all the building debt as quickly as we can and appreciate all of the continued support from individual and business sponsors to make that happen.”
