Indigenous child care facility
The Ontario government is coming through with a cool $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services and Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre. The funds will be used to build a child care facility that provides educational programs for Indigenous preschoolers and their families that promote the Anishinaabek culture and language in Sault Ste. Marie.
“This $1 million investment to build this new facility will increase access to licensed childcare and parenting supports for Indigenous families in the community,” said Sault member of provincial parliament Ross Romano. “In addition to building a modern facility that houses important social services and essential supports for working families, this investment from our government will create 24 new jobs in our local economy.”
The new child care space will provide a safe and secure learning environment, while allowing parents who participate in the program to access education and training for future employment.
“The availability of affordable and high-quality childcare is key to the peace of mind of parents as they go to school and work,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “Our government is supporting Indigenous-focused child care to ensure all Northern Ontario families have access to the supports they need.”
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $473 million in 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,679 jobs.