Family centre will relocate to classrooms
Service to be parent-led in future
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, July 22, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife Family Centre will relocate its services for young families to two classroom spaces in Yellowknife Catholic Schools facilities this fall, prompting relief from parents who were concerned it could close.
Eleven-month-old Abby DeCoste shown playing at the Yellowknife Family Centre before it had to find a new location. - photo courtesy of Candace DeCoste |
The centre offered a place for young children to play and take part in crafts; it offered parents the sharing of knowledge among the staff and new parents as well as a toy-lending library.
The family centre, administered by the Catholic school district, was informed earlier this year it would have to leave its leased space on second floor of the SideDoor Youth Resource Centre building on 50 Street.
The school district said it wasn't sure where the centre could relocate and left parents worried it could shut down.
It will now move into classrooms in Weledeh Catholic School and St. Joseph School, which are in the same building, said YCS superintendent Claudia Parker.
"The program has to adapt to the space that we're going to be using," Parker said, adding they want to offer as many components of the program previously offered as possible.
The decision was made at a special YCS board meeting July 13 attended by numerous parents who have used the family centre. It was decided the service would transition out of the school district's administration to a parent-led committee.
"We had a full house (at the meeting) and parents were very happy," Parker said.
"Parents want to step up and be involved and make sure we can keep it going," said Candace DeCoste, who has used the Family Centre and made a presentation at the board meeting.
DeCoste said the school district was looking to transition away from running the centre as it isn't in its mandate and instead wants to keep its focus on school-age children. The centre is targeted for children from birth to the age of five.
"Parents are really excited to be involved and we've had a lot of interest in wanting to help out to make sure the program keeps running," she said.
DeCoste said it will take time for the transition and that she is glad the school board is helping parents with that work.
The move to the classroom space is temporary, Parker said.
The centre has funding in place until March next year. That funding comes from both the federal and territorial governments. The board decided it would apply for funding for the next three years, Parker said.
The parent advisory committee for the family centre will be open to members. Updates will be posted to the Centre's Facebook page, DeCoste said.
