It's day one of construction for Altona's new daycare

Years of planning and fund raising are coming to a head as construction is set to get started on the new Kiddie Sunshine daycare centre in Altona. Crews with WBS Construction are arriving on site today, according to the heads of the daycare's board of directors. 

"It's definitely very exciting," said Vice-chair, Nicole Friesen. "We've put a lot of heart and soul into this. A lot of answering emails. But it's going to be so nice to see those shovels put in the ground."

It was confirmed in March that, thanks to many local donors and a funding top-up from the provincial and federal governments, the new facility would start to become a reality this year. 

The new daycare, to be built on a section of land owned by the Border Land School Division, will add 98 childcare spaces in the community, for a total of 135. 

The new daycare will be built on a piece of land next to the Border Land School Division office.

"We've seen with the announcement of the ten-dollar-a-day childcare that our waitlist has skyrocketed, so we know that the need is there," added board chair, Laura Wiebe. "So, I think parents and future parents are excited about having greater access to childcare in the community.

We just need to express our thanks to the community," added Wiebe. "We wouldn't be at our fully funded state if it wasn't for the support from all of our community. So, just a big thank you to all of our supporters."

Wiebe anticipates the new daycare to open in Fall 2024. 

Meantime, demand for childcare spaces in Altona is so high that the Board plans to hold on to the current daycare, located on Centre Ave. Friesen noted, being able to operate the second location is a matter of being able to fully staff it. 

Altona Community Foundation members Al Friesen and Haydon Friesen present the Foundation's first of five $10,000 cheques coming over the next five years.