Valleyview Kids Zone daycare finally returns home to community centre
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2017 (3142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After months of displacement, Valleyview Kids Zone is back up and running in the Valleyview Community Centre.
The daycare is temporarily on the main floor, and will make its final move back to the basement once renovations are complete.
“It’s literally one of those situations — whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” executive director Bonnie Mills said of the past 10 months. “Between staff and parents, board members and the community, everybody really rallied together to essentially ensure the safety of the operation of Kids Zone.”
The community centre was abruptly shut down by Manitoba Public Health last October after mould was found in the building. Foundation issues were also discovered following an assessment of the city-owned building.
As a result, Kids Zone was left without a home, and parents were scrambling for child care. Through the help of the community, the daycare was able to use space at Valleyview Centennial School, and Knox United Church before temporary trailers were set up on the property.
The City of Brandon and the province’s Department of Families worked together to help provide the temporary trailers, which were available until mid-July.
“The trailers were a blessing. They kept us open,” Mills said. “It’s just sometimes those little things like having the bathroom in the building, having one big space where all the children and staff can mingle and incorporate together and engage with one another, instead of having to travel between trailer to trailer.”
The 40-spot daycare is licensed for children ages four to 12. Over the summer, numbers have fluctuated between 35 and 40 children. There are nine staff members, which includes casual employees.
“It’s nice, the word is getting out that we’re still open, that we’re in a permanent location,” Mills said.
Construction work includes mould remediation, foundation repairs and minor upgrades to the heating and ventilation system.
“It’s going along as anticipated,” said acting city manager Rod Sage.
“Once the basement is done, the daycare would go back in the basement, and then the main floor would be available for renting out to community groups.”
The work is expected to be completed by the end of September.
» jaustin@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @jillianaustin