County Funds New Child Care Centre

COUNTY OF RENFREW FUNDS NEW CHILD CARE CENTRE IN PETAWAWA

Pembroke, (ON): The County of Renfrew is pleased to announce the transfer of $600,000 to the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board for a new licensed child care centre within St Francis of Assisi School in Petawawa. The funding was approved at the May 30th, 2012 meeting of County Council and officially delivered today, June 22, 2012.

The funding partnership between the County of Renfrew and the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board will result in a much needed increase to the number of licensed child care spaces in Petawawa. The new licensed child care facility, opening early 2013, is expected to support an additional 54 licensed spaces bringing the total number of licensed spaces in Petawawa to just over 400.

The funding partnership between the County of Renfrew and the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board is an excellent example of the County of Renfrew Child Care Services Division’s mission to help “Make Renfrew County the Best Place to Raise a Child”. The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board has built the daycare shell attached to the school and the County of Renfrew is supporting the costs associated with the construction of the child care rooms. The resulting daycare will be accessible to families with children in the Petawawa community and will provide quality, affordable, licensed child care and education under one roof.

This project began over six years ago following the receipt of a non conditional grant reserve from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Since 2006 the County of Renfrew has supported two other major licensed child care projects through previous partnerships with the Renfrew County and District School Board for the creation of Leaps and Bounds Child Care Centre in Arnprior (attached to A.J. Charbonneau Public School) and the expansion and renovation of Deep River Nursery School in Deep River (Mackenzie High School). In total the County of Renfrew has utilized over $1.6 million dollars ($800,000 Arnprior, $245,000 Deep River, and $600,000 Petawawa). Overall over the County has funded over 160 additional new licensed child care spaces through these three projects, bringing the total number of licensed child care spaces in Renfrew County to 1065.

If you would like more information, please call:

Judy Mulvihill County of Renfrew Manager of Childcare Services 613-735-4100
Bruce McIntyre County of Renfrew Media Relations Coordinator 613-732-5945