News Archives: New $25 per day Demonstration Daycare Pilot Project Opens
Friday, August 25th, 2017
GRANDE PRAIRIE – Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) student, Katie Rowlandson says the College’s new $25 per day daycare takes a huge weight off her shoulders by offering affordable childcare for her four-year-old daughter Paisley right on campus while she continues her education.
“Knowing you don’t have to come up with a paycheque to pay fees or having a flexible drop-off schedule makes it easier on me to focus on my studies and know that Paisley is in great hands just down the hall,” says Rowlandson, who is enrolled in the college’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) program.
GPRC has one of 22 Early Learning and Child Care programs across Alberta selected to be part of the Government of Alberta’s three-year pilot project, Creating New Spaces Grant for $25-a-day childcare services.
“Our college is pleased to be selected by the Alberta government to be a part of this provincial initiative in our community,” said GPRC President and CEO, Don Gnatiuk. “We are pleased to be able to offer our students this opportunity of hands-on experience right on campus.”
GPRC opens its affordable childcare services at the on-campus Children’s Centre Demonstration Daycare on Monday, August 28. Registration for the 28 spaces opened last May, spaces quickly filled and there currently is a waitlist for families interested in the program.
The program also benefits the College’s Early Learning and Child Care students by providing more on-campus practical learning opportunities.
“I am looking forward to being able to work with so many different children as part of my studies and see Paisley interacting as well,” says Rowlandson. “I’m really thankful for this opportunity and the hands-on experience. It makes me feel so prepared for my future career.”
The daycare’s programs offer inclusive supports for children with diverse needs allowing GPRC students the opportunity to work with a wide range of children.
“Not only is GPRC serving our community’s families, our Early Learning and Child Care students will be able to complete observations, assignments and practicum experiences without having to leave campus. It is truly an amazing opportunity,” says Theresa Suderman, GPRC Human Services Department Chair and Instructor.
The Children’s Centre Demonstration Daycare offers full-time programs running 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and will hold 28 full-time spaces. Twelve spaces for children ages 19-36 months and 16 spaces for the 3-5-year old program.
This Government of Alberta will evaluate the success of its pilot project in three years to determine if it will continue funding or expand the program. GPRC will also review the success of its daycare to determine if the College will continue the program past the three-year pilot project.
Learn more or apply for a spot in the Children’s Centre Demonstration Daycare visit: www.gprc.ab.ca/community/child_centre/index.html.
About GPRC
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in postsecondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information, visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Danielle Smith GPRC Public Relations Phone: 780-539-2954 Mark Evans GPRC Corporate Communications Phone: 780-539-2951 |