County holds grand opening for child care and learning centre expansion

ABOYNE –  The county officially opened the Wellington Place Child Care and Learning Centre expansion project on Nov. 10.

The $1.8-million expansion project, designed by VG Architects, began a year ago and adds 15 new toddler spaces to the centre. 

The expansion was made possible by the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund and the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Start-Up Grant.

“The need for more affordable, licensed child care spaces has never been more critical,” stated Warden Chris White in a county press release.

“On behalf of Wellington County council and the residents we proudly serve, I would like to thank the governments of Canada and Ontario for the generous investment which has made this expansion project possible.”

The 1,500-square-foot addition was added to the existing 6,000-square-foot building. 

An additional child care classroom, activity room, and modifications to some of the existing child care spaces adjacent to the addition are part of the expansion project. 

County officials say VG Architects worked hard to ensure the addition matched the design of the original building, which opened in 2019.

“Joint social services and land ambulance  committee chair Linda Busuttil lauded the addition of 15 new toddler spaces “in a high-need area.”

She added, “There is still more work to do to increase access to licensed child care spaces across Guelph and Wellington County, but the opening of this expansion is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Children’s Early Years director Ashley Vanderlaan said, “We know the first five years are a critical period of a child’s development. It is during these years that children build the foundations for lifelong learning, healthy relationships and emotional well-being. 

“This is why investments into the licensed child care and early years system, like this expansion, matter so much.”