New early learning centre set for Whitecap
- EFN Staff | May 05, 2015
The Whitecap Dakota First Nation will soon have a new early learning centre to call its own.
Various partners gathered on the First Nation, located about 30 kilometres south of Saskatoon, to make the announcement on May 5.
The new centre will cost about $2 million to build and have capacity for 56 spaces.
The federal government is fronting $1 million of the cost with the province adding in another $500,000.
Whitecap Dakota First Nation is contributing $260,000 and BMO Financial Group $250,000.
The Saskatchewan government has also agreed to fund the annual operating costs of 45 of the 56 spaces once the centre opens.
The federal government will fund the remaining 11 spaces.
The new centre will be located on the grounds of the Whitecap Elementary School.
Chief Darcy Bear says the community has long outgrown the existing capacity of the current early learning centre.
“We originally built a 22-seat daycare but that daycare’s maxed out,” he says. “We have a waiting list and through our partnership with the Saskatoon Public School Division we started talking about how can we develop a brand new 56-seat early learning centre that is no different than what operates in the City of Saskatoon. The only difference is it is going to be operating on Whitecap land.”
Roughly 680 people are currently employed on the Whitecap First Nation and Chief Bear says the facilities of the new early learning centre will not only be available to the children of families living on-reserve but for those traveling from outside for work.
“The current daycare is for Whitecap members only. This new early learning centre is also going to be open for our employees and so certainly there will be a high demand for it.”
Funding for on-reserve infrastructure and services typically falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
However, Regina Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski, who was on hand representing the Harper government at the announcement, says they are happy to see the province also on board in funding the new early learning centre and it is likely a sign of things to come down the road.
“I think it’s tremendous frankly and I think it’s the way of the future,” he says. “I think we are going to find more occasions where both levels of government can partner whether it be with private industry or with First Nations themselves because we all have a stake in this, it’s not just the solo responsibility of one level of government.”
Saskatchewan Education Minister Don Morgan says people are not restricted to where they live in terms of the services they need so it just makes sense that the province pursue a joint partnership like this one.
“I think it’s important for us to realize that no matter where citizens live, whether they’re on-reserve or off-reserve, they tend to go back and forth and we need to focus on having as much as a joint approach as we possibly can,” he says. “And this type of partnership just fits that so well.”
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall was also on hand at the announcement.
The new early learning centre is expected to be open sometime in the spring of 2016.
Related story: Significant education partnership a first in Saskatchewan
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