Completion of new community daycare in Iqaluit celebrated

IQALUIT, NU, July 8, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recognizes that high-quality, affordable child care is a necessity for Canadian families and contributes to their economic security.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, celebrated the completion of the new community daycare in Iqaluit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility will be the largest daycare in Nunavut, accommodating approximately 60 children.  

The lack of access to childcare in Iqaluit makes it challenging for local employers to attract Inuit into the active workforce, forcing parents to remain home with their children instead of pursuing an education or being available to work. The new daycare will provide much-needed additional child care and will help to build a better quality of life for families in Iqaluit. 

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada funded the design and construction of the daycare. Not-for-profit Tundra Buddies Day Care Society will operate the facility. The daycare is tentatively scheduled to open in September 2019.

Quotes

"Children deserve a safe and healthy place where they can learn and grow. Congratulations to all involved in the vision and construction of this daycare. Improved access to child care will improve social well-being and the economic security of families in Iqaluit."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

"Investing in early childhood development has significant and life long benefits for children, families and their communities.  The Tundra Buddies Daycare Society commends the Government of Canada for its efforts and contribution to the community of Iqaluit with this wonderful facility. We look forward to providing quality early learning and child care that embraces our languages, cultures and experiences."

Jackie Price and Anna Fowler
Tundra Buddies Day Care Society Co-Presidents

Quick facts

• Kudlik Construction Ltd., an Iqaluit-based, Inuit-owned firm was awarded an $8 million contract in 2018 to build the daycare.
• The daycare was designed by EVOQ Architecture Incorporated, which has been working on architectural projects with Inuit and First Nations for the last 30 years.
• The facility is decorated with work of local artists selected through an Art Integration program.

Associated links

• Construction of new daycare in Iqaluit gets underway
• New daycare for families in Iqaluit: Contract for design of new daycare awarded

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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

media may contact: Matthew Dillon-Leitch, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, 819-997-0002; Media Relations, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160