A new place to learn, laugh and play

By Ken Johnston
Editor

“We are finally here!”
Those are the words of a very excited Gabe Langlais, Supervisor for the Laugh, Learn and Play Centre and the Best Start Hub in Rainy River which just opened at its new location on July 20, 2009.
A catholic school in the 1970s, the building has now returned to its educational roots after having housed the Rainy River Municipal offices, court, MNDM/ServiceOntario, and most recently Rainy River Duty Free and Sears businesses.
However, before the LLPC and Best Start could move in, extensive renovations were needed. The project to consolidate both facilities under one roof began back in 2005. At that time the umbrella organization for them, Rainy River Toy Library Inc. (RRTLI) looked at the former Duty Free building but at the time the local elementary school (Riverview) was awarded funding to renovate and house them. But when the bids came in too high it was turned back the RRTLI to look at other options.
In 2008 they purchased the Duty Free building and work began shortly thereafter to renovate it. Total project costs were $698,090.00. The money came from the Ontario Early Years Centre Best Start Capital fund and the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board Best Start Capital fund.
Walking into the main (west) entrance of the facility is a jaw-dropping experience if one remembers the old interior. It features all new flooring, a reconfigured design and plenty of natural light.
To a visitor’s left is the Best Start Hub (formerly the Toy Library/Resource Centre). Down the hall on the left is a conference room and the toddler classroom. Down the right side as you enter is the Supervisor’s office, an exit to a fenced in outdoor play area, then a full kitchen and laundry facility and then the pre-school and school aged classroom.
Everything is new and meets all standards allowing the facility to be licensed for day-care from ages 31 months up to school age children.
For the past few years the LLPC (day-care) was operating in a temporary location at the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church but was only licensed to handle toddlers and preschool kids. With the new facility Langlais said they applied for school age certification and are now able to accommodate them as well.
At present there are 41 kids from all three levels utilizing the facility; 16 pre-school, 10 toddler and 15 school age. While not all are full time Langlais said the centre is already getting well utilized.
A typical day for pre-schoolers is in the morning they have indoor free play/crafts time with all areas open for play. Then it is clean-up and healthy snack time. Circle time is next. Everything follows a weekly theme and in the circle time they learn sitting down. Then it is outside to one of two fenced in play areas. That is followed by lunch and rest time. The facility has cots tucked away in cupboards for the kids to use while napping. In the afternoon the cycle is similar. For toddlers the schedule is the same but with simpler activities and for school aged kids similar with more complex activities.
The Best Start Hub, is run by coordinator Nicole Blakney. In addition to offering toy/resource lending services like the former Toy Library/Resource Centre did, she also hosts many different types of programs geared not only to children but to families as a whole. Examples of such programs include the Back Pack Program, Kids in the Kitchen and a music program, just to name a few.
The hub draws not only from Blakney’s Early Childhood Educators background but from other agencies such as the Northwestern Health Unit, North Words, Family and Childrens’ Services, local schools and the Recreation Board; again just to name a few.
Other staff members include Christie Campbell and Alicia Nordin, both qualified Early Childhood Educators and three summer students Alyshia Langlais, Kristina Burner and Kaitlyn Bonhomme. Gabe Langlais is also a qualified Early Childhood Educator.
The LLPC is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 pm. The Best Start Hub is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues, Wed. and Friday and on Thurs. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Plans for a grand opening/open house are slated for August 13, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 6:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend and help celebrate this great accomplishment and high quality facility.
“This is awesome and was a long time coming. A lot of work from the board (RR Toy Lib. Inc.) who are all volunteers and staff have made this possible,” said Langlais last Friday.
“While (this) marks forward movement of the Best Start Plan for Rainy River it is also a celebration of the commitment and dedication of our community partners to ensure ‘the Best Start for all children,’” said Deb Cousineau, Best Start Network Co-chair.