Battlefords celebrate launch of Early Years Family Resource Centre

The is the first ever location for the non-profit organization in the community.

“We are brand new to the province,” Tyndall said. “The province started the family resource centres as a pilot project back in 2013. We got secured funding in 2019. There have been sites picked all over Saskatchewan, and they have been opening up ever since around the province.”

The centre provides quality early learning programs for families, both parents and caregivers, with children up to age five. Drop in sessions and specialized programs are also available. There is no cost to participate in the programming.

Tyndall says the 3,600 sq. ft. facility was initially expected to have its official launch earlier but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

“This fills a major gap in the community that I think was missing for a long time,” she added.

Tyndall said she is already hearing lots of positive response from families.

“You know when you are coming here you are going to be connecting with other parents and caregivers that are taking care of young ones from zero to five years,” she said.

Families and caregivers take part in the programming together with their children.

Shown, clockwise from bottom left: a look inside the new facility, Saskatchewan Health Authority primary health director for the Battlefords Region, Johann Engelke, BEYFRC coordinator, Kailyn Tyndall, and Saskatchewan Minister of Education Dustin Duncan at the opening ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Tyndall said the centre is a great place for parents to connect to support in the community.

“We figure it out together here so you are not alone,” she said.

Saskatchewan Minister of Education Dustin Duncan said the centre has been open and started serving the community since 2020.

“I’m excited to be here to celebrate and recognize all the wonderful programming that is happening at this wonderful centre,” he said. “The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to be able to invest in quality early learning program and facilities that benefit families here in Saskatchewan and children during the early years.”

The project was supported through federal and provincial funding through the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning And Child Care Agreement.

Duncan thanked the centre’s management team and programming staff for their dedication and leadership over the past two years as the project got off the ground.

“You really are making a difference in the lives of families here in the Battlefords,” Duncan said.

Saskatchewan Health Authority director of primary health for the Battlefords region, Johann Engelke, said it’s great to see the facility open for families to enjoy.

He mentioned he was touched to see so many young families attend the ribbon-cutting celebration.

“This was a multi-year project in partnership between the Ministry of Education, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program,” Engelke said. “That funding came through in 2019 and it was used pretty quickly to construct this amazing facility…. Now with this grand opening we are looking at the first time the facility can be used to its full potential.”

He said the facility will do great work to help young kids achieve their full potential.

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill also excited by the launch.

“[This is] one of 15 around the province. This is targeted at really some key years of development,” he said. “To have this resource in our community, the facility is awesome. There are so many different services available to families. So it’s really excellent to have this in our community and to see the work they are doing.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

Battlefords celebrate launch of Early Years Family Resource Centre

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