A partnership between the Saskatchewan and Federal Governments will see 2,349 new childcare spaces built in the province. (Shane Clausing/980 CJME)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Child care spaces

New child care spaces coming to Central Saskatchewan

Nov 10, 2023 | 2:35 PM

New childcare spaces are set to open in 41 communities across the province thanks to a $23.5-million partnership between the Saskatchewan government and federal government.

According to a news release, the 2,349 spaces in 51 organizations is funded as part of the “Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement” and are a mix of new developments, expansions, additions and over 600 spaces of those will open in Central Saskatchewan.

“This investment of $23.5 million will provide Saskatchewan families greater access to affordable, high-quality early learning and childcare opportunities,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in the release. “These spaces will support positive child development, early literacy and student achievement.”​

Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) President Glen McCallum said in same release that they “are pleased” to collaborate with the two governments as they too will be funded for 90 spaces.

According to the Ministry of Education, the definitions for each new space are as follows: a new development is “an organization with no other centres that is now opening their first centre”, an additional site refers to “an organization with at least one operational centre that is now opening an additional centre,” and an expansion means “an organization with at least one operational centre that will undertake renovations in their facility to increase the number of spaces at that site.”

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“Providing a culturally safe space for Métis children in their early learning years is key. We know from various studies and our history that children who are raised with their identity, culture, language and values have a stronger chance of thriving.”

Here are the communities and organizations that will be receiving the spaces:

Carrot River’s Carrot River Casper’s Early Learning Co-operative Centre (38)

Cudworth’s Cudworth Childcare Centre (30)

Humboldt’s Prairie Roots Early Learning Centre Inc. (40)

La Ronge’s Northlands College (50)

Lloydminster’s Little Futures (90)

Melfort’s Melfort Daycare Co-operative (90)

Meota’s Morningside Early Learning Centre (24)

Nipawin’s Nipawin Daycare Co-operative (23)

Prince Albert’s Prince Albert Childcare Co-operative (50)

Spiritwood’s Love and Laughter Early Learning Centre (23)

Tisdale’s Tisdale Tiny Tornados (90)

Unity’s Unity Community Daycare (50)

Wilkie’s Wilkie Community Daycare (40)

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