Halton's first Early Years Child and Family Centre at Oakwood by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 13 | Friday September 15, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insidehalton.com Oakwood Public School will soon feature the first permanent Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centre in Halton following the renovation of two of its existing classrooms. The future centre, which will be made possible through a $720,000 grant from Omtario's Ministry of Education, was announced during an open house at the school last Friday, Sept. 8. The registered charity Oakville Parent-Child Centre (OPCC) will operate the centre and offer programs for families and children as well as parent education and support and information on community services and outreach. "This is an exciting time for Ontario. We are in the middle of a major transformation in our child care system to better reflect the challenges, demands, and realities of our modern-day life," said Halton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care and Minister of Women's Issues. "Whether it is your own children or the children you care for or the children in your community, we all want the same thing. We want to give them the best and strongest start in life and we want to help them reach their full potential. We want to put them on a firm lifelong path to success." Naidoo-Harris noted she has seen the positive impact high-quality child care and early-years programs can have on a child's future, and Halton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care and Minister of Women's Issues, speaks at a presentation announcing the future establishment of an Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centre at Oakwood Public School. | David Lea/Metroland emphasized this work is crucial. "This space will serve as an important gathering place for parents and caregivers," she said."It is a place where children can play, learn, and grow together. It is a place where families can access valuable information and support." The centre will be created through the retrofitting of two unused classrooms at Oakwood, which will create a facility about 2,100 square feet in size. Preliminary construction work has already begun, with the centre expected to be up and running in February 2018. Halton District School Board Director of Education Stuart Miller said the board believes in early intervention and supports for families. He said it has been known for a long time that the earlier schools can offer parents and children rich learning experiences, the better the outcome. "This means offering parents and caregivers support within our schools well before children reach Kindergarten," said Miller. "The expansion of Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres into our schools is another step forward in this work and I cannot think of a better community to start than here at Oakwood." Miller said other improvements the board has made to early-years supports have included the introduction of full-day Kindergarten and the expansion of its before- and after-school programs at all its elementary schools. This announcement is part of a three-year bilateral agreement that will see the federal and provincial governments invest $435 million in increasing the accessibility and affordability of high-quality licensed child care and quality learning opportunities within the province. Some Oakwood parents have voiced concerns that the school's already congested parking lot will not be able to handle the additional traffic the centre will bring once it opens. An expansion of the parking lot is scheduled to take place; however, some do not believe it will be enough. Halton District School Board Superintendent Scott Podrebarac said the proposed parking lot expansion is not set in stone and noted the board would be in touch with parents to discuss their views on the subject. Fall programs now available. W NE Visit online to register today! ymcaofoakville.org | 905-845-3417