A former church in Omemee will become a new space for the community’s youngest residents as Compass Early Learning and Care prepares to open a new infant, toddler, and preschool child care program.
The non-profit charitable organization is partnering with the City of Kawartha Lakes to establish the program at 62 King Street East, the former home of the historic Christ Church, with funding support from the provincial and federal governments.
An opening date has not yet been announced, but families can now join a waitlist. A media release from Compass Early Learning and Care does not specify how many child care spaces will be available at the Omemee location.
“Increasing access for families to high-quality, affordable child care is a key priority for the City of Kawartha Lakes Children’s Services,” says Alyson Traux, the municipality’s manager of human services, in the release.
“With funding support from the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada, the City of Kawartha Lakes is proud to partner with Compass Early Learning and Care to meet the growing child care needs of families in this rural community.”
Traux adds that the city looks forward to continuing its longstanding relationship with Compass and opening the new space.
The program will offer early learning and care designed to support children’s growth, development and well-being, while giving families access to care within their own community.
Compass Early Learning and Care co-CEO Ashley Collins says the project also offers an opportunity to preserve elements of the former church as it takes on a new purpose.
“We are grateful to be partnering with the City of Kawartha Lakes to be adding additional early learning and care spaces in the Omemee community,” Collins says. “We hope to honour the building’s history by preserving as much as possible during the transformation.”
Established in 1981, Compass Early Learning and Care offers programs at more than 40 locations and supports a network of licensed home child care providers. Its services include licensed care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten and school-aged children, as well as EarlyON and Forest and Nature programs.
According to the organization, its network of more than 700 employees and 80 home child care providers serves over 5,000 families across Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Durham Region, and Northumberland.
Families interested in the new Omemee program can join the waitlist through OneHSN at onehsn.com/kawarthalakes/ux_2_0. Once registered, children will remain on the list, and Compass will contact families as program details and an opening date are confirmed.
