Education and Child Care
Imagine a place where parents can get their children immunized, attend a StrongStart BC program and participate in a parenting class without having to move the car.
Oceanside families will soon have this opportunity with work underway on Family Place, a community hub bringing health and wellness, social and learning resources under one roof. Family Place will draw people of all ages for public health services, and will be a venue where small children can attend early learning programs, First Nations students can learn more about their heritage and youth can access and contribute to programs and services.
The Province is investing $7.1 million for the Family Place project, a concept resulting from an ongoing partnership between the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and the Qualicum school district (SD 69).
Partners gathered today for a groundbreaking ceremony with Minister of Children and Family Development Mary McNeil and Parksville-Qualicum MLA Ron Cantelon representing the Province.
Key Facts:
The Qualicum School District owns the land where the new Family Place will be built. Work on this project is underway and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2012.
The Family Place project was initially approved in April 2009 under B.C.'s Accelerated Infrastructure Program. The project's scope and budget have since been changed as a result of the relocation of the operations and maintenance centre.
This $7.1-million project
will create 45 jobs for the Parksville-Qualicum area.
The school district will maximize the use of wood in this project as part of the Province's Wood First Act.
Since 2001, the Province has committed more than $3.9 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across B.C.
Family Place will be designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards. The project consists of several components:
- Constructing a two-storey, energy-efficient building to house three community programs. Some key features include the use of natural light and recycled materials, retaining rain water for irrigation on the property, and energy-efficient lighting, plumbing, heating and cooling systems. These features will reduce the impact of the new building on civic infrastructure.
- Relocating the district's operations and maintenance centre, which is currently on the site.
- Deconstructing 11 portables.
- Renovating an existing building that will house the StrongStart BC Munchkinland Discovery Centre.
Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE)
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963
Corinna Filion
Communications Director
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-2007
Suzanne Germain
Vancouver Island Health Authority
250 370-8294
Candice Morgan
Superintendent of Schools
School District 69 Qualicum
250 248-4241
BACKGROUNDER
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Family Place programs to improve health, literacy
Here are a few of the programs and services that will be available for the Oceanside community when Family Place opens its doors in 2012. Many of the programs noted below have been collaboratively developed by the partners, and include programs that involve other community agencies, seniors, volunteers and local businesses.
Qualicum School District (SD 69):
* Building Learning Together Society (BLTS) a coalition of community partners, provides more than 20 family literacy programs for young children (up to six years of age) and their parents, including the StrongStart BC Munchkinland Discovery Centre, Dads' Night Out and Mother Goose, and coordinates community literacy planning.
* First Nations education services helps First Nations students to better understand their heritage, increase their sense of belonging and help them with their success at school.
* Student Support Services work with schools and families to provide support for students with special learning needs.
Ministry of Children and Family Development:
* Early intervention services for families of children with special needs.
* Early childhood education and literacy programs for children (up to six years of age).
* Individual counselling services for children, youth and families who want to deal with stress, emotional or behavioural disorders.
* Child and family development services for families who want to strengthen and maintain a safe and positive nurturing environment for their children.
Vancouver Island Health Authority:
* A team of health-care providers will include public health nurses, family support workers, a nutritionist, a dental hygienist and a pre-school speech therapist.
* Early Years Program includes prenatal classes, weekly prenatal groups, Healthy Beginnings groups for parents of infants and a group of parents of toddlers.
* Child Health Clinics provide routine immunizations and information on topics such as healthy eating, dental health, speech and communication, growth, development and learning through play.
* Triple P Parenting helps parents learn and practise effective parenting strategies.
* School and Youth services include ENITY, a youth-led health promotion program developed with the School District and offered in schools and weekly youth sexual health clinics.
* The Discovery Program works with youth and their families about substance abuse.
* Communicable disease prevention and follow up will be provided, including adult immunizations and harm reduction services.
Media Contacts:
Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE)
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963
Corinna Filion
Communications Director
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-2007
Suzanne Germain
Vancouver Island Health Authority
250 370-8294
Candice Morgan
Superintendent of Schools
School District 69 Qualicum
250 248-4241
