New co-op daycare set to open in June

FERGUS – A new childcare centre preparing to open in early June in Fergus could take 31 children off waitlists.

The Centre Wellington Child Care Coop is planning to operate from two sites, said board president Holly Sullivan in a phone interview.

Melville United Church will be the site of the toddler program and will be able to accommodate 14 children aged 18 months to preschool. Faith Lutheran Church will host the preschool program for 16 children aged 30 months to school age.

The cooperative will hire eight staff – one supervisor, four early childhood educators for the toddler program and three for the pre-school.

As a cooperative, it is hoped that parents will participate in fundraising, maintenance tasks and other initiatives.

“We’ve been working toward this for a couple of years,” Sullivan said, adding Wellington County’s Children’s Early Years division has helped to set officials on the right course.

They’ve been pre-approved for the early learning program, meaning Centre Wellington Child Care Coop will charge $22 a day. 

The facility has also accessed grants to help with some up-front costs such as minor renovations to the childcare sites.

Hours of operation will be 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday.

Sullivan said the notion started with a group of moms chatting about not being able to find childcare.

Instead of just worrying and complaining, they decided to do something about it and began investigating how to get a cooperative going.

And even after learning how labour-intensive it would be to get it off the ground, they decided to keep going.

“It’s really been a grassroots movement,” Sullivan  said. “And there’s been a great response. Already a few businesses have been helping.”

There will be inspections – building, public health, fire and ministry of education – all to ensure the facilities are safe and meet requirements.

The board is now seeking monetary and in-kind donations to meet its target. It is also seeking the following items in new or gently used condition:

• about 1,500 square feet of luxury vinyl flooring;
• two dishwashers;
• a couch and two accent chairs;
• a small kitchen table with two chairs;
• two sheds approximately 8X10 feet in size;
• materials to build two sandboxes;
• two mud kitchens;
• quality educational toys for toddlers and preschoolers;
• books for children four and under; and
• art supplies (paper, paint, safety scissors, glue, crayons etc.)

The board is in the midst of a fundraising campaign and hopes to raise $20,000 for expected and unexpected costs.

And there’s a sponsorship campaign where supporters can pledge $5,000, $2,500 or $1,000 for advertising space in the childcare centres.

“We’re really excited,” Sullivan said. “I know there is a lot of need, and this is just a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start.

"And with community support, we can make this happen.”

For more information, visit cwchildcare.com. Anyone with questions can email cwchildcarecoop@gmail.com.