On August 20th, municipal, county, and provincial representatives cut the ribbon on a new 13K square-foot facility in Almonte that will provide licensed childcare and early learning spaces for 78 children aged 0-4.
The $10.5M project came in on time and on budget and provides a major jump in available spaces according to Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry.
The centre was designed with accessibility, inclusion and child development in mind, featuring barrier-free access, bright and welcoming learning environments and thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces that support children of all abilities. The project was made possible through funding from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, administered by Lanark County, which also provided a major financial boost.
Lowry gave full marks to her council for moving forward with project planning without guaranteed funding.
Lanark County reports childcare demand continues to be high and wait-lists can be lengthy.
Story by Brian Turner
