The Elkford Recreation Centre is set to provide temporary daycare space between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31.
The District of Elkford council approved the temporary free use of the centre’s multi-purpose hall for the Elkford Women’s Task Force Society’s (EWTFS) Elkford Childcare Centre at a meeting on Monday (July 11).
The temporary space is going to be used due to a construction delay for the planned Childcare Centre and Community Hub, to be located at the old district office at 816 Michel Rd.
According to a report to council by chief administrative officer Tyler Madsen, the design for the planned space is under review for cost saving measures.
“Unfortunately, due to the increased construction costs in 2022 resulting in these delays, the window of opening the childcare centre for September 1, 2022 is unlikely,” Madsen wrote.
“The Elkford Women’s Task Force Society has inquired about temporarily setting up the childcare space in the Multi-purpose Hall located within the Elkford Recreation Centre until such time that the construction in the old District Office is completed.”
During the Monday meeting, Mayor Dean McKerracher said that, according to Kim Bauer of the EWTFS, “they already have a full slate of 28 kids.”
“They need somewhere to go,” he said.
According to Madsen’s report, temporary walls will be constructed for sleeping rooms along with ‘some other small items’ such as temporary wash sinks.
Current programming using the space will temporarily relocate to Teck Hall in the Community Conference Centre, according to the report.
At the Monday meeting, councillor Mandy McGregor inquired about the taxpayer cost of the temporary use, to which McKerracher said there would be none.
Madsen’s report said that, once the design review for the Childcare Centre and Community Hub is complete, staff will seek construction authorization from council.
The review, according to the July 11 report, is expected to be completed with building permit ready drawings within the next two to three weeks.
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