L-R: BWDSB Superintendent of Education Wendy Louwerse, Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre President Amanda Hofstrand, BWDSB Chair/Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula and Town of South Bruce Peninsula Trustee Jane Thomson, BWDSB Superintendent of Education Keith Lefebvre (back), Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre Supervisor Andrea Munn, Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody, Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Mayor Milt McIver, Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre Assistant Supervisor Andrea Edgerton (supplied image)
A new childcare centre in Tobermory marked its official opening this week.
Officials from the Bluewater District School Board and municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula were among those who gathered Monday for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre in St. Edmunds Public School.
The 39-space facility includes one toddler room and one preschool room. The project is a partnership between Bluewater District School Board and Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre, a statement from the school board says.
“We have quite a lot of experience with childcare facilities in schools,” says Bluewater Board communications officer Jamie Pettit. “We find it’s a perfect match to have childcare within the school environment, because it really does help young children with that transition. In many cases, these young children are future students … having them in that environment really helps them with the transition when it comes time to enter kindergarten.”
Nearly $1-million in funding from the Ministry of Education and the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan helped make the childcare space possible.
“It is such an exciting time as we celebrate the opening of this incredible new child care facility in St. Edmunds Public School,” says Bluewater District School Board Chair and Town of South Bruce Peninsula/Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Trustee Jane Thomson in a statement. “Thank you to the Ministry of Education for their funding support, our local MPP for their continued advocacy to meet this need in the community for many Northern Bruce Peninsula families, and the federal government for their financial contributions. This endeavour would also not be possible without our partners at Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre, Bruce County, the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, and our board staff. Their combined efforts and shared commitment have produced a modernized and inspiring learning environment that will contribute to the growth and early development of current and future generations of young children in our area.”
Northern Bruce Peninsula Mayor Milt McIver: “This move will not only ease the transition from daycare to elementary school but will also provide children with a nurturing environment that will foster both academic and interpersonal skills. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Bluewater District School Board and the staff members of Tobermory Primary Place Child Care Centre for all of their efforts.”