NEW 15 SPACE CHILD CARE CENTRE OPENS IN LAKE LENORE

Today, Batoche MLA Delbert Kirsch on behalf of Education Minister Donna Harpauer will join parents, community members and representatives from Horizon School Division to celebrate the opening of a 15 space licensed child care centre at Lake Lenore School.

"Since becoming government, we have made significant progress in increasing the number of licensed child care spaces in Saskatchewan," Kirsch said. "The 15 new spaces in Lake Lenore are an important part of our commitment to create more child care spaces for busy Saskatchewan families."

"Quality child care is essential to the development of each child and we are pleased to see this project become reality in order to serve the needs of Lake Lenore and area," Horizon School Division Director of Education Marc Danylchuk said.

"The development of these spaces has provided many families with access to consistent, affordable child care that would not otherwise be available due to the size of our community and the high cost of opening these spaces independently," Lake Lenore Childcare Centre Board President Kim Moorman said. "As a result of the partnership with Horizon School Division, Lake Lenore Childcare Centre is able to offer a regulated learning environment for children within our community."

The Government of Saskatchewan provided more than $538,600 to support the development of the child care centre, which will become a long term community and school division asset. The one-time funding includes $475,000 for capital renovations to the school, $50,400 in space development grant funding, and more than $12,900 to assist with purchasing equipment, furnishings and materials that enhance early learning.

Over the past three and a half years, the Government of Saskatchewan has made a record investment in licensed child care, allocating funding for 3,435 new child care spaces to communities across the province. This represents a more than 30 per cent increase in child care spaces since November 2007.

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For more information, contact:

Sarah Still
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1613
Email: sarah.still@gov.sk.ca