Day-care operator promotes centre's merits
The Daily News - Kamloops
02 Nov 2006

EXCERPT

A proposed downtown day care will provide spaces for 28 infants and toddlers and clean up a dilapidated heritage home, said the chairwoman of Children's Circle Daycare.

The society that operates 44 spaces for older preschool age children beside Royal Inland Hospital received a $300,000 grant from the province this year to create new spaces downtown.

Karyn Sutherland, who chairs the society, said Wednesday the group has an option to purchase a home at 622 St. Paul St. that is being restored, based on the outcome of a pubic hearing.

While Kamloops council voted Tuesday to send it to a hearing, Coun. Tina Lange said the City must counter a trend to convert residential housing east of Sixth Avenue to business uses that are dark at night.

"I don't view it as a business," Sutherland said. "We really depend on the strength of the neighbourhood we're in."

The new day care will support families living and working downtown, many of whom have few options for quality care for their young children.

"Speaking with the neighbours, they're supportive. Obviously the neighbourhood is improving and they're happy to see child care coming in."

The developer, who is improving the house, originally intended to make it half-residential and half-business use. Extensive renovations include replacing the foundation and lifting the house so basement ceilings are nine feet tall.

"It's been a long process to find a suitable location. ... One of the great things here is the developer is raising ceilings to nine feet. It will be incredibly bright."

If council approves the rezoning, Sutherland said the building phase should be complete by the end of December.

While the 28 spaces were originally supposed to be the first phase of a more ambitious project, Sutherland said cancellation of child-care funding by the Conservative government means the society cannot expect more money from Ottawa for expansion.

The $300,000 provincial grant was intended to be 50 per cent funding. The society got an additional $50,000 from the Vancouver Foundation and is starting a fundraising drive.