KDSB assuming delivery of child care spaces, services at 54 Princess Street

Tim Brody - Editor

The Kenora District Services Board (KDSB) will take over operations of the child care spaces at Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start at 54 Princess Street, in Sioux Lookout effective, September 1.
KDSB shared in a July 28 press release that, “Children currently receiving services in the Waninawakang Child Care Centre will transition to the Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start at 66 Princess Street. There will be no disruption in service to families who are currently receiving care from the Waninawakang Child Care Team.
“The KDSB will begin to phase in operations of the Early Years and Child Care Programs on September 5, 2023. The Kenora District Services Board will begin recruiting for Child Care Staff in hopes to have the infant spaces available to the community.”
KDSB shared that they will work towards operating forty child care spaces at 54 Princess Street in the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, adding that they will work to build the staff complement and work towards access to nine infant spaces, and fifteen toddler spaces and sixteen preschool spaces.
“We are grateful that the KDSB will continue the child care services at 54 Princess Street and look forward to continuing our partnership with them to ensure a smooth transition,” said Marci Driver, Executive Director of Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start.
“Our Board felt it was important to ensure the child care spaces are available to the community.  We look forward to expanding service delivery in the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.  We thank Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start and its Board of Directors for their leadership and commitment to child care. We look forward to our ongoing partnership to ensure Indigenous Culturally relevant programming is embedded in the programs,” stated Henry Wall, Chief Administrative Officer of the KDSB.
KDSB shared that, “All parties involved will be working hard to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, with families seeing no disruptions in programming. Following the change, Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start and the KDSB will continue to work in partnership to establish a centralized waitlist for child care within the Municipality of Sioux Lookout. Families will be contacted to ask permission to share their current application with the Kenora District Services Board.
“As both parties move forward, the KDSB will communicate as needed with families, stakeholders, and the community. Both the KDSB and Waninawakang Aboriginal Head Start thank the families, and the Ministry of Education for supporting both organizations through this transition.”