By Chad Ingram

The renovation and expansion of the Compass Early Learning and Care facility in Minden is complete and, once it is safe to do so, the daycare provider intends to invite the community to check out the building.

Compass ELC received grant funding to expand the number of childcare spaces at the facility on Prentice Street from 26 to 49.
“Our renovations are now complete and we are excited to announce that we now have spaces for 10 infants, 15 toddlers and 24 preschoolers,” reads a release from Compass. “We have been welcoming back families and are currently working through our waiting list for new families. We have some part-time and full-time spaces available.”

Families in search of childcare can register at https://onehsn.com/kawarthalakes

“It takes a village to raise a child, and for Compass ELC Minden, this has certainly been the case!” the release reads. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our families, neighbours and community members who have supported the renovation. Our funders and supporters included the Province of Ontario, County of Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes, and the Township of Minden Hills, including the fire department, and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit for helping us navigate through the renovation and rezoning process. Also, a thank you to the Trillium Lakelands District School Board for our temporary home at Archie Stouffer Elementary School while our renovations happened. Thank you to everyone who helped us reopen safely for our families and educators.”

“The teams at Awde Architecture and Planning and Icon Construction were instrumental in supporting the project, and Ron and Chad were there from the drawing and planning to the ongoing support and guidance throughout the build,” it continues.

The County of Haliburton is the landlord of the property, with county council voting in 2019 to purchase it for $2 from previous owner, the Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC).

Previously, the daycare had been run by the OEYC. In June of 2018, parents whose children attended the facility received a letter from the OEYC, notifying them the daycare service would be terminated after June 22, as its continued operation had become financially unsustainable for the organization.

That led to a series of conversations that concluded with the county purchasing the property, in order to ensure sustainability of local childcare. The property was initially donated to the OEYC by the Dollo family.