By Mark Dreger
The Westbank First Nation celebrated their official opening and provincial recognition of the WFN Early Years Centre with an open house on Friday at the new Youth Centre.
sa国际传媒淲estbank First Nation is proud to receive recognition as a Provincial Early Years Centre,sa国际传媒� Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley said. sa国际传媒淥ur younger members are the future of our nation, and council is committed to expanding the programs and services available for our babies, parents, and children.sa国际传媒�
The $5.5 million centre will help grow the already successful community services, with over 100 children and adults taking part in the programs they provide. The After School Care Program has already reached capacity with a waitlist for more.
The centre, which formerly offered programs and services at the WFN Health and Wellness Building, is now located on the top floor of the new WFN Youth Centre.
sa国际传媒淥ur vision for the future is to have a facility that houses all of our early years programs and services in a culturally safe environment, including daycare and preschool, as well as a space to provide ancillary services on site,sa国际传媒� said Early Years Services manager Margaret Eli. sa国际传媒淢oving to our new location is an exciting step toward fulfilling that vision.sa国际传媒�
The Capital News spoke with Eli after the event.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e being provincially recognized for something wesa国际传媒檝e been doing for many years as an integrated service,sa国际传媒� Eli said, sa国际传媒渁nd especially with our children and families, so itsa国际传媒檚 a way to grow, itsa国际传媒檚 a way to be recognized, and itsa国际传媒檚 a way for the bigger community to buy into First Nations programs and be welcome to our land.sa国际传媒�
Eli says that the programs will give First Nation students sa国际传媒渁 much better start than theysa国际传媒檝e ever hadsa国际传媒� in their education, with programs such as the After School Care Program, the Infant Development Program, and the Supported Child Development for children with special needs.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e addressing the needs before they go to school,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淪o if a child say has a speech difficulty, then they can get the services right up there so that by the time they enter school they wonsa国际传媒檛 have it or it will be lessened.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 exciting to be able to see that children with special needs can get theysa国际传媒檙e services here,sa国际传媒� Eli said.
WFN has operated early years programs for over 30 years, but recently received provincial recognition in summer 2016.
The Early Years Centre runs programs that include sa国际传媒渇amily programming, supported child infant development, after school programs, and spring and summer campssa国际传媒� designed for infants, young children, and whole families. The Centresa国际传媒檚 programs are run by eight full-time employees, one permanent part-time employee, one casual employee, four summer students, and four childcare providers. The programs focus on education, language, culture, and family involvement to name a few.
sa国际传媒淲ithout the children we would not be a community,sa国际传媒� Eli told the attendees of the event. sa国际传媒淲e would not have a future. And we do have a future and itsa国际传媒檚 a bright future.sa国际传媒�
