***Original published in South Mountain Press, January 25, 2019***
Erickson’s Little Hands Early Learning Center Nearing Completion
In just over a month, Chrystal Shellborn’s vision of an Erickson professional daycare center should be up and running. Remarkable progress has been made by this young lady and her dedicated volunteers who have only been working on the project for the past year with the opening of the ‘Little Hands Early Learning Center’ projected for March 1st.
About a year ago, when Chrystal returned from vocation training with a young family in tow, she realized there was a desperate need for daycare spaces in the Erickson, Onanole, and Sandy Lake area. After enlisting support through an appeal on social media, other young mothers came to her aid and planning began for building a daycare facility.
A non-profit organization called the Clanwilliam-Erickson Childcare Initiative was formed to oversee planning, fundraising, and implementation of the project. The group is comprised of Chrystal as Chair, other interested young mothers, and former local RM Councilors Scott Gray and Tami Johnson.
Working closely with the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson, the Childcare Initiative was able to secure monies to help with start-up costs, property purchase, and renovations. During a Special Meeting of Council on May 15, 2018, a $15,000 grant was awarded to assist with the organization’s start-up costs. In addition, the Council agreed to serve as security and guarantor for the Childcare Initiative’s Royal Bank $100,000 loan for the purchase and improvements to the vacated Erickson Royal Bank property on Main Street near the Co-op.
According to Scott Gray, the former building’s owners were very reasonable with their selling price once they became aware of what the property was going to be used for.
As Chrystal describes it, ‘The Clanwilliam-Erickson Childcare Initiative started with concerned mothers who were frustrated with the lack of childcare availability in rural Manitoba – specifically the area of Erickson and the surrounding communities. This group is dedicated to the rural communities and want to revitalize our little towns while benefiting the children. Not only will daycare help to keep and attract new families, it will also make strides in our economic growth to keep our ‘tiny’ Manitoban towns alive. Also, by locating the daycare center in one of Erickson’s vacant business buildings, we can help revitalize the town’s business district and economy.’
Currently, the old bank building is undergoing $150,000 of renovations in order to convert the former teller, office, and vault spaces to play, learning, and rest areas for infants and toddlers. Local contractors are well on their way to finishing the new kitchen and children’s areas. They are also busy replacing the building’s old propane furnace and adding washroom facilities. At the rear of the building, a fenced play area will be created.
Chrystal says that the space will be able to accommodate four infants and twenty two toddlers. Hiring interviews for a Director, Early Childhood Educators, and Childcare Assistants have recently begun and a waiting list for the first ‘Little Hands’ has been created.
An ambitious undertaking such as this would not have been possible without significant financial and volunteer support from the community. Chrystal and the other members of the Childcare Initiative appreciate the generous financial support from the following organizations: the Lions Clubs of Erickson and Sandy Lake, the Erickson Compass Credit Union, the Erickson Heritage Co-op, the Community Development Corporation, and the RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson.
Once the daycare is up and running, it will become eligible for government operating grants. But that process can take up to two years for monies to be awarded.
Meanwhile, in order to keep the fees associated with running the daycare reasonable, Chrystal and her volunteers plan more fundraising activities. They plan a repeat of a successful ‘Paint Nite’, a Casino Night plus chocolate and meat sales. Also, the Childcare Initiative group would appreciate the donation of a gently used washer and dryer for the facility.
For people unfamiliar with what a ‘Paint Nite’ is, it is a fun way for aspiring artists to learn how to paint while enjoying a beverage or two.
For more information on the progress of the Little Hands Early Learning Center’s renovations or to contact the Clanwilliam-Erickson Childcare Initiative visit their Facebook page.
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.