Coleville licensed daycare project is well underway
By Joan Janzen
The Coleville Licensed Daycare Development Committee is hard at work raising funds for the two licensed daycare homes that are being planned for their community. Kathy Sproule is the chairperson of the Coleville Community Endowment Fund, which encompasses the daycare committee.
On Saturday, April 13th, the committee held Surf and Turf for Tots at the Coleville Community Hall, featuring a lobster and kabob supper prepared by the community, along with a raffle table and silent auction. More than 160 people enjoyed the event.
The Coleville Licensed Daycare Development Committee is hard at work raising funds for the two licensed daycare homes that are being planned for their community. This is a group of daycare kids at Coleville. There are 32 kids on the waiting list for daycare. The two daycare homes will help fill that need when they open later this year. SUBMITTED
“We included DJ music later in the evening; we haven’t done that before,” Kathy Sproule said. All funds raised were used to aid in the facilitating of the development of the licensed daycare homes. “We’re hoping this will give the last amount of capital needed for renovations.”
The project was started in May of 2023 when the committee raised $40,000 in a letter drop fundraiser. They also hosted the Coleville fall supper and Christmas flower sales in 2023. “Our local Coleville Rec group kick started the fundraising by giving us a $100,000 donation,” Kathy said.
Two residential properties in Coleville were purchased in December of 2023, to accommodate the daycare homes. The properties are owned by the Coleville Community Endowment Fund, which is a non-profit group. “The Community Endowment Fund gave us a loan to purchase the property and we have to pay that back,” Kathy explained. “We will fundraise each year to have a cushion for operating costs. The full project is estimated at $220,000 and we have raised $140,000.” That doesn’t include the proceeds accumulated from their most recent fundraiser.
Painting has been done at the new locations, but much more work is needed. Flooring, fencing around one of the yards, new steps, and upgrades to one of the basements as well as fire upgrades are needed.
“We’ll begin advertising for operators soon. We’ll lease the property to the operators, and they will work with the ministry to become licensed,” she explained.
About 32 kids are on the waiting list, but by the time the homes are established, Kathy estimated they will have 24 spaces available at a $10/day daycare. “It’s an on-going service for our community. It’s something that’s lacking right now,” she said. “We’re hoping to start up this June or July. They might not be licensed initially but we hope to have the operators moving in.”