NEW 40 SPACE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE OPENS IN SASKATOON

The Early Learning Centre at Queen Elizabeth School in Saskatoon was officially opened today. The Centre offers 40 new licensed child care spaces. It also delivers the federally-funded Language Instruction to Newcomers to Canada (LINC) English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and provides the provincially-funded Stage 1 ESL classes.

"The addition of 40 licensed child care spaces are of significant benefit to the community," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "The additional services provided by the centre, such as language training, are all part of our collective efforts to ensure newcomers and their families are provided with the necessary tools to make their settlement in our province a successful and rewarding experience."

The Saskatoon Public School Division and the Saskatoon Open Door Society will partner to operate the centre, which began operation on October 1, 2010.

"We have made a record investment in early learning and child care over the last three years, increasing the number of child care spaces by more than thirty per cent," Education Minister Donna Harpauer said. "The 40 new spaces at Queen Elizabeth School mean that more children will have access to high quality early learning, while their parents are able follow their own education or employment pursuits."

The Ministry of Education is contributing more than $789,000 to the project, while the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration is providing $75,000 in funding.

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For more information, contact:

Richelle Bourgoin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8153