Pearson Child Care reopens
Grand opening held for new city day care location at PACE at PCVS on McDonnel St.
One of the many benefits of the new home of Pearson Child Care Centre is a much larger playground that allows children to run around over greater distances.
Staff know that’s the case because those kid dies are taking longer naps, city program manager for children’s services Sandra Robinson joked as a grand opening was held at Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education (PACE) at PCVS at 201 McDonnel St.
The new location, which opened Aug. 28, is the result of a partnership between the city, which runs the day-care centre, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, which owns and operates PACE – where mature students earn credits toward high school diplomas.
Finding another downtown location was key, Robinson said. It had been located in the manse of the former George Street United Church (now called Emmanuel United Church). That’s where the 49-year-old day-care centre, the oldest in the city, was established.
The partnership also provides an opportunity for Pearson – named after former prime minister Lester B. Pearson who grew up in Peterborough – access to school board services, she told those gathered in the basement gymnasium at the former Peterborough Collegiate.
Mayor Daryl Bennett, who shot his first basketball in the gym, praised the collaboration for what it will mean for generations to come. “Our future is in great hands.”
Something else new for Pearson and the downtown is a new community playground – located on the green space between the building and McDonnel – that is open to the public outside of program hours, in the evenings and on weekends, Robinson said.
The expanded space has meant Pearson is now licensed for 39 children, up from 26. Two dozen of them are in the pre-school room, 15 in the toddler room. The facility offers services for children from 18 months to six years of age.
PACE vice-principal Marc Gagne emceed the event, which also included brief speeches from public school board chairwoman Cathy Abraham and education officer Tim Ralph of the Ministry of Education, as well as tours of the facility.
NOTE: For more information on Pearson Day Care or other city social service programs, visit www.peterborough.ca/Living/City_Services/Social_Services/Children_s_Services/Municipally_Operated_Programs.htm .