Newly expanded licensed childcare centre opens in Baden

A childcare organization in Waterloo Region is expanding to Baden.

A newly renovated and expanded childcare centre in Baden is officially opening its doors.

Emmanuel at Sandhills held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning at 3601 Sandhills Road.

The licensed centre can accommodate up to 110 children between the ages of 18-months and four-years-old and is part of the federal and provincial governments’ $10-a-day childcare program. Being involved in the initiative has reduced the fees for parents.

“[It] means a significant savings to families who are now paying $22 per day, which was previously $65 to $55 a day,” Dana Bernhardt, executive director at Emmanuel Early Learning Centre, said. “If anyone has young children, you know there is a real childcare crisis right now. There’s a lack of spaces in our region. So being able to offer 110 more spaces to our community is life-changing for many families. We’re very happy to be able to open our doors and provide more quality childcare to more families.”

The space for formerly run by Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health. A release from Oct. 1, 2024 states ownership of the school had been transferred to Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre to ensure the site stayed in the hands of a non-profit organization.

Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre also has a location at 65 Noecker Street in Waterloo.

Emmanuel at Sandhills also offers an experience that is different from a typical childcare centre; the facility is certified by The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.

“Staff at the centre have taken the Forest and Nature School Practitioners Course and have specialized training to provide forest school curriculum,” Bernhardt explained.

According to The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada website, they believe, “All children and youth should have the opportunity to play and learn in forests, parks, meadows and mud puddles. We work to connect children and youth with nature through policy, research and practice.”

The organization said forest and nature schools allow children and educators to build a relationship with the world around them through regular access to outdoor spaces.