With a recent announcement that Compass Early Learning & Care (Compass ELC) would be launching a new program in Kirkfield, the Peterborough-based not-for-profit organization said it’s hoping to to provide more than child care to the Kawartha Lakes community over the long term.
Compass ELC purchased a building at 1047 Portage Rd., which was previously owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, and intends to open a child care program with 45-plus spaces for area infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
With renovations beginning shortly, a request for proposals being tendered this fall, and an anticipated opening in 2025, Ashley Collins, Compass ELC’s co-CEO and corporate link, shared with kawarthaNOW her vision for the organization’s future in Kirkfield.
“We are really hopeful to become a contributing member of the Kirkfield community by expanding access to early learning and care for families, and offering meaningful employment to educators in the area,” Collins said.
“As a not-for-profit, we re-invest any available surplus funds into the program by way of creating welcoming, joyful spaces, and compensating our team members in order to retain passionate, dedicated early learning educators.”
“We are also hopeful that, once the first phase of renovations is complete, we can work with children and families in the community to co-construct a vision for a beautiful outdoor play area that the community could also have access to in the evenings and weekends.”
In addition, Compass ELC will be supporting a community that’s considered underserved when it comes to accessing child care.
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System is intended to expand child care to areas and people that have historically been under-served, like Kirkfield. Compass ELC, in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes, said the Kirkfield community was identified as the number-one priority area based on lack of access to licensed child care, and the needs in the surrounding area.
“We are grateful to work with the wonderful children services team at City of Kawartha Lakes to bring a child care program to the Kirkfield community,” Collins added.
Upon opening, Compass ELC will offer 10 spaces for infants (0 to 18 months), 15 spaces for toddlers (18 to 30 months), and 24 spaces for preschoolers (30 months to six years) for a total of 49 spots.
For families, Compass ELC will release details about a waitlist and registration information in 2025 when a projected opening date is in sight.
Compass ELC is a network of more than 700 employees and 80 home child care providers who serve more than 5,000 families in Peterborough County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Durham Region and Northumberland County.
“Our organization envisions a world where each of us feels we belong; children are respected as citizens of today; families feel valued and supported; early learning and care teams are recognized for their significant contributions; and all peoples and Mother Earth have what they need to thrive,” Collins said.
“Our new program in Kirkfield will honour this vision, offering child care to an area that is currently a child care desert.”
