Daycare project’s ‘problem’ slightly delays progress in Maple Creek

Daycare site: Fencing surrounds the site where excavation has taken place. Modular construction meant building fabrication and on-site work could happen at the same time

Maple Creek News

The Maple Creek Childcare Cooperative project has run into a problem, Maple Creek Town Council has heard.

“There has been a problem with the design of the daycare and the depth at which the daycare foundation was installed,” Barry Elliott, the Town’s chief administrative officer, said.

He added that the Town was discussing the issue with the general contractor and the engineer.

“We have done our best to secure the site. Nobody wants to see an excavation remain open that long and every work day I am hopeful that we will get that response from their engineer in moving forwards, but it has got to happen very, very soon. We know the housing units are coming.”

Elliott said that the Town had given the engineer and general contractor recommendations on what to do, and they were mulling these over.

“There is a cost involved.”

Elliott said he could talk about it in the private portion of the Council meeting.

The new centre will be on the northeast corner of the Sidney Street School playground.

The Chinook School Division provided the land, which meets all requirements for space and accessibility.

Last year, the Maple Creek Childcare Cooperative announced that a contract had been officially signed with Herauf Modular of Regina.

The $2.1 million centre will provide 61 licensed childcare spaces, designed to serve infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.

These spaces include nine flexible spaces that will support demand across different age groups, and one non-licensed space will be available for school-aged children.

The building is being funded through a mix of provincial grants, a loan from Cypress Credit Union, and community-driven fundraising efforts.

The centre will employ at least 11 full-time staff. Three staff members will hold their Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Level 3 certification, with one serving as Director of the facility.

It is hoped that affordable childcare, set at $10 per day, will contribute to the economic vitality of Maple Creek. The project has been backed by the Town and RM of Maple Creek.