Les petits pingouins Childcare Centre (CÉPP), located at École Père Mercure, North Battleford, was officially opened Feb. 15.
Officials, parents, and staff from the school and from the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF) celebrated the project's launch, recognizing the hard work and dedication shown by the group of parents responsible.
President, Roxanne Reynoldson, and secretary, Colette Lavallée, explained the process the parents had taken in the past two years to make the centre a reality. Both emphasized the need for more quality child care spaces as well as the importance of assisting families in reclaiming and retaining their French language and culture. Many parents appreciate having a child care centre within the school so that siblings may travel together and younger children can attend preschool as well as daycare, they said.
The centre accepted children for the first time in May 2010, but has been in operation on a full-time basis only since September 2010. Children 18 months to five years of age are accepted. The CÉPP has 25 child care spaces and 14 part-time and full-time spaces were occupied at the time of the inauguration. The centre currently employs two full time and two part time staff.
Murielle Rousseau, provincial councillor for the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises offered her congratulations followed by director of education of the school board, Bernard Roy.
" The inauguration is the fruit of much hard work on the part of the parents, and the consequence of effective collaboration between the school, the home and the community," Roy said.
"Partnerships are valued and encouraged by the CÉF, and this type of project supports our triple mandate: culture, school and community."
Micheal Chisholm, MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford, spoke on behalf of minister of education Donna Harpauer, emphasizing the importance the government has places on early child care.
Over the past three years, the government has provided funding for 2,935 new licensed child care spaces, representing a 30 per cent increase. The Centre éducatif Les petits pingouins has received funding of $414,000, including $308,500 for capital renovations.
North Battleford mayor, Ian Hamilton, and local MLA, Len Taylor, both indicating quality childcare centres and having the option of a francophone environment will benefit the Battlefords community.
Gabrielle Lepage-Lavoie, general director of the Association des parents fransaskois, an association that through its specialized employees, ensured support to the parent committee throughout the development of the CÉPP, also spoke.
Murielle Rousseau and Bernard Roy cut the ribbon held by two children who currently attend the CÉPP. Guests were then invited to taste the cake adorned with the centre's logo and have a tour of the new facilities.
