Wawanesa Wee Care Inc. |
September 2014
Wawanesa Wee Care Construction Begins
It's been a long road, but the hole is dug, and the first steps toward the construction of a new building for the Wawanesa Wee Care Daycare have been taken.
“At the beginning of the month we started seeing some action, with a crew and backhoe digging the hole,” says Wee Care Director Jenn Cullen. “Every day, it's like a new scene out there. Right now, there are surveyors out there, trees have been cleared, so things are progressing.”
Originally, it was planned that approximately 60% of the funding required for the new building would be secured from the Public School Finance Board through the Family Choices Building Fund, with the additional 40% required being acquired through Southwest Horizons in the form of a 20 year mortgage, but new information has changed that, as well as the plans for the layout of the daycare itself.
“Upon discussions with the Public School Finance Board, Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care, and the school division, we came to the realization that, should we downsize the building, they would fund any entirely new space one hundred percent,” says Cullen, explaining the plan changes. “We will now be building a new space to accommodate 16 preschoolers and four infants, and will retain the 16 spaces currently being used in the school.”
While the funding for the building is now entirely covered, fundraising will continue for equipment, furniture, and playground development.
“We want a beautiful, natural playground for the children,” Cullen says. “It's important for the community to see things progressing, and the children are getting excited now that they can see things are happening. It's been a learning process for all of us.”
The expanded facility will also require additional staff, probably an addition four to five positions, as well as an increase in hours for the current part time staff. Of those currently employed at the facility, three have been there for seven years, and two others have been there for over a year.
Those in charge of the new build have given a tentative date of February for completion.
It's been a long road, but the hole is dug, and the first steps toward the construction of a new building for the Wawanesa Wee Care Daycare have been taken.
“At the beginning of the month we started seeing some action, with a crew and backhoe digging the hole,” says Wee Care Director Jenn Cullen. “Every day, it's like a new scene out there. Right now, there are surveyors out there, trees have been cleared, so things are progressing.”
Originally, it was planned that approximately 60% of the funding required for the new building would be secured from the Public School Finance Board through the Family Choices Building Fund, with the additional 40% required being acquired through Southwest Horizons in the form of a 20 year mortgage, but new information has changed that, as well as the plans for the layout of the daycare itself.
“Upon discussions with the Public School Finance Board, Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care, and the school division, we came to the realization that, should we downsize the building, they would fund any entirely new space one hundred percent,” says Cullen, explaining the plan changes. “We will now be building a new space to accommodate 16 preschoolers and four infants, and will retain the 16 spaces currently being used in the school.”
While the funding for the building is now entirely covered, fundraising will continue for equipment, furniture, and playground development.
“We want a beautiful, natural playground for the children,” Cullen says. “It's important for the community to see things progressing, and the children are getting excited now that they can see things are happening. It's been a learning process for all of us.”
The expanded facility will also require additional staff, probably an addition four to five positions, as well as an increase in hours for the current part time staff. Of those currently employed at the facility, three have been there for seven years, and two others have been there for over a year.
Those in charge of the new build have given a tentative date of February for completion.