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.
害羞草研究所淲estbank First Nation is proud to receive recognition as a Provincial Early Years Centre,害羞草研究所� Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley said. 害羞草研究所淥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.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淥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,害羞草研究所� said Early Years Services manager Margaret Eli. 害羞草研究所淢oving to our new location is an exciting step toward fulfilling that vision.害羞草研究所�
The Capital News spoke with Eli after the event.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e being provincially recognized for something we害羞草研究所檝e been doing for many years as an integrated service,害羞草研究所� Eli said, 害羞草研究所渁nd especially with our children and families, so it害羞草研究所檚 a way to grow, it害羞草研究所檚 a way to be recognized, and it害羞草研究所檚 a way for the bigger community to buy into First Nations programs and be welcome to our land.害羞草研究所�
Eli says that the programs will give First Nation students 害羞草研究所渁 much better start than they害羞草研究所檝e ever had害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e addressing the needs before they go to school,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淪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 won害羞草研究所檛 have it or it will be lessened.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 exciting to be able to see that children with special needs can get they害羞草研究所檙e services here,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渇amily programming, supported child infant development, after school programs, and spring and summer camps害羞草研究所� designed for infants, young children, and whole families. The Centre害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淲ithout the children we would not be a community,害羞草研究所� Eli told the attendees of the event. 害羞草研究所淲e would not have a future. And we do have a future and it害羞草研究所檚 a bright future.害羞草研究所�
