ASSINIBOIA — Never to be underestimated or taken for granted, it has been three years of continuous dedicated efforts and commitment by a group of parents who volunteered countless hours to tackle childcare challenges in Assiniboia.
What started as a gathering of concerned mothers struggling to secure childcare, has now grown into a 10-member board of directors of a non-profit organization known as the Golden South Childcare Centre.
“The group initially set out to assess the childcare needs in Assiniboia by conducting a community survey. With 55 responses, they quickly identified 87 children in need of reliable, secure care,” said a GSCC spokesperson.
The information gleaned from the survey provided the need, and incentive to take action. This resulted in numerous fundraising events, while also applying for support through Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
“While waiting to hear back about the status of their application, the organization was overwhelmed by the incredible support from the community. Local businesses, organizations, and individuals stepped up with donations, sponsorships, and volunteer hours. Thanks to this generosity, the organization was able to purchase the building that once housed the St. Lawrence and St. Boniface Anglican Church,” affirms Nicole, Board member of GSCC.
Soon after acquiring the property, the board was ecstatic to learn that Assiniboia would be one of 41 Saskatchewan communities selected to receive funding aimed at increasing access to affordable childcare for families across the province.
According to the Golden South Childcare Centre board chair, the board is optimistic they have raised enough funds to cover construction costs and are now shifting focus to evaluating the expenses for furnishing and equipping the centre and playground. | Photo courtesy Golden South Childcare Centre
The GSCC board and volunteers stated, “Thanks to the funds raised within the community and the funding received from the Ministry of Education, the Board was able to hire local contractors to begin renovations. Initially, it seemed that the renovation costs would require further fundraising efforts. However, the organization was recently informed by the Ministry that additional funding will be provided to help cover the expenses. With this exciting news, and the amount fundraised to date, the Board is now confident that all construction costs will be covered, although they anticipate some unforeseen expenses due to the building's age.”
With the arrival of a new year, the organization says they are thrilled to see significant progress on their dream to reality vision.
“Framing for a nap room has been completed, windows have been enlarged to meet regulations, and an accessibility ramp has been added to the exterior. With electricians currently on-site and plumbers scheduled to start soon, the Board is optimistic that the centre will be operational in 2025.”
Nicole Batty, board co-chair, acknowledges, “While it’s exciting to see the progress of the facility, our volunteers are fully aware of the work still ahead of us to design, equip, and staff a centre that will offer holistic childcare and create a developmentally supportive learning environment.”
Batty also mentioned that the lack of accessible childcare not only affects local families, but also the growth and sustainability of the community. The board of GSCC is dedicated to creating a centre that will serve residents for generations to come.
While optimism is high for a 2025 opening, Batty affirms, “Unfortunately, the organization is not yet able to announce a specific opening date. However, they encourage those in need of childcare to follow their social media accounts for the latest updates. The board is optimistic that they have raised enough funds to cover the construction costs and are now shifting their focus to evaluating the expenses for furnishing and equipping the centre and playground.”
The GSCC Board also states, “Once the centre is better able to project an opening date, we will begin collecting names and families will be drawn through a ‘lottery’ system. We aren’t currently operating a wait list since we are unable to provide a potential start date. “
While there are no concrete plans for fundraisers as of yet, the board hopes to have a barbecue fundraiser in the spring so the community can come in and see the renovation progress. The online auction, which typically takes place over Thanksgiving weekend, is also planned to continue.
GSCC also appreciates the donations of toys and supplies from community members and remind residents they if they are looking to re home gently used toys, art supplies, books, etc., consider donating them to this new childcare centre.
Contractors working on this project are Kimball Electric, Bamford Construction and Prairie Mechanical.
