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By Sheena Roszell

Francophone-based daycare is coming to Grande Prairie

Jun 22, 2018 | 6:38 AM

After more than 10 years without anything like it, a francophone-based daycare is coming to Grande Prairie. It will be located in École Nouvelle Frontière.

There was a francophone preschool/daycare in the past and someday homes that were French-based.

Brigitte Kropielnicki, Superintendent of the Northwest Francophone School Board says presently there is definitely a demand for a French-based daycare.  The Francophone Association did a survey a couple of years ago and this was at the top of the list. In January the board approved her recommendation to open a daycare.

“We have a preschool in École Nouvelle Frontière and parents were finding it really hard to bring the kids in the morning and come and pick them up.  Some saying, ‘it would be so easy if you guys had a daycare.’”

They hope to have the new daycare open ahead of the 2018-19 school year. When it first opens they will have room for 24 kids age three to five. Kropielnicki thinks 24 spaces will not be enough.

“I am sure that we are going to need more than that.  This is just the beginning.  We are working with the Francophone Association of Alberta, with the Francophone Association in Grande Prairie, and the Centre for Newcomers. It’s a collaborative program, it’s going to grow, I can see it growing.”

Kids can be added to the waiting list by calling the school ((780) 814-7945).  It’s first come, first serve.  The Superintendent says to keep within the requirements, at least one parent in the family would need to be from a francophone background.  

The cost will be capped at $25 a day under the provinces new Early Learning and Child Care Centres pilot program.

Before the daycare opens, they need to build a washroom for the space and all inspections must be complete.

They are also looking at adding an entrance from the outside, so parents do not have to go through the school. 

by Sheena Roszell