Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Whale Cove (Mar 13/02) - The grand opening of Whale Cove's first official day-care centre is close to becoming a reality.

Once completed, the new day care will ring in at a cost of $423,292, which includes labour and materials.

The day care will be able to accommodate about 20 children, although an exact number will not be determined until final inspections are complete.

Louise Hickes is the manager of the Aboriginal Training Fund for Kivalliq Partners in Development.

The manager is responsible for administering day-care funding in the Kivalliq Region under a federal-funding agreement.

Hickes said the Whale Cove Day-Care Centre is nearing its final stages of completion and is expected to be open this coming spring.

A grand opening will be held once all the equipment and furniture arrives and final inspections are completed.

"The day-care committee has been working closely with the hamlet's administrative staff to complete proposals for needed materials and supplies, and make final preparations to get the day care up and running and open for business," said Hickes.

"It's going a lot better than it was during the past two years."

The new day-care centre is expected to be staffed by local workers.

Professional training will be provided for those being considered for employment at the day care.

The training will be co-ordinated by the CEGEP Continuing Education program in Quebec and cost-shared with other day cares in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.

Hickes says the hamlet of Whale Cove has been actively trying to get a day care up and running in the community for about the past four or five years.

"There's a definite need in the community for such a facility and I'm sure it will be a big day for Whale Cove when the ribbon is cut and their new day-care centre is finally open for business."