YMCA Launches New Child-Care Centre in Gananoque

Gananoque celebrated a significant advancement in early childhood education with the official opening of the YMCA of Eastern Ontario child-care centre at 400 Stone Street South. The centre, which began welcoming its first group of 39 toddlers and preschoolers on September 15, 2023, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon. Local officials and community members gathered to mark this important milestone.

The newly renovated facility provides 15 spaces for toddlers and 24 spaces for preschoolers, catering to children aged 18 months to five years. Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The transformation of the former Kinsmen building has created a safe and engaging environment for young learners, prioritizing their developmental needs.

This initiative is part of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system and the CWELCC Leeds and Grenville Directed Growth Strategy. The objective is to establish 637 new affordable, licensed child-care spaces across the region by the end of 2026. Funding for this project comes from both the federal and provincial governments, underscoring the collaborative effort to enhance child-care services.

During the ceremony, Steve Clark, Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, commended the centre for its role in supporting families in Gananoque and surrounding areas. He indicated plans for future expansions that could allow the centre to accommodate more than 80 children, further increasing access to essential child-care services.

Rob Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Eastern Ontario, emphasized the importance of community collaboration. “With the right support and partners in place, we can make affordable, accessible, high-quality child care a reality for more families across Eastern Ontario,” Adams stated.

Local leaders echoed this sentiment, recognizing the centre as a crucial resource for families seeking quality child care. This development not only supports the community’s youngest residents but also aids parents in balancing their work and family commitments.

The opening of the YMCA child-care centre represents a forward-thinking approach to early childhood education, addressing the growing demand for accessible child-care solutions in the region. As communities continue to evolve, such initiatives are vital in ensuring families have the necessary support systems in place.