The Willowdale Child Care and Learning Centre is set to re-open its doors at 95 Willow Road on Oct. 29.
Last November, insulation containing Libby Mine asbestos was discovered at the centre, forcing the staff to evacuate children immediately. Staff at the County of Wellington and the City of Guelph worked together to open a temporary centre in the Willow Road area within one week of the closure.
The County, Guelph, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and the Ministry of Education have worked diligently over the past year renovating and conducting multiple tests and inspections to ensure the building is safe to re-open.
“Our number one priority remains the safety of the children and the Willowdale staff,” said County Warden Chris White. “It was also critical that a temporary centre open in the Willowdale area as quickly as possible for these families. County and City staff have been working hard to clean up the original building so the children and staff can return as quickly as possible to the original centre.”
“I’m pleased that, thanks to a significant collaborative effort between local governments and agencies, this issue has been successfully and safely resolved and Willowdale has opened its doors once again. This is a positive ending to a challenging and disruptive situation for Willowdale families and employees,” said Guelph’s Mayor Karen Farbridge.
“I’d like to thank the parents and the children for their patience during this transitional period,” said Luisa Artuso, director of child care services. “Everyone is looking forward to returning to our regular location.”
Currently enrolled children and their families are invited to attend a “Family Visit Night” on Oct. 23 at 6:30 pm at the Willowdale Child Care Learning Centre located at 95 Willow Road in Guelph.
Staff will conduct the move over the weekend of Oct. 27 to avoid a service disruption for families.
