Construction has kicked off for Dawson City, Yukon’s upcoming daycare, following a $2.7 million funding injection for the Big Blue Daycare project. The financing, sourced from the territory’s early learning and child care infrastructure fund backed by the Canadian government, marks a significant milestone for the initiative.
Brian Naef, an advisor overseeing the project, expressed enthusiasm about the progress, noting that after years of planning, the project is now advancing rapidly. Excavation work has been completed, with the area leveled and primed for construction.
Yukon’s Education Minister, Scott Kent, emphasized the vital importance of accessible child care services in Dawson City and beyond. The commencement of the daycare’s construction phase was welcomed by Kent as a crucial development for the community.
Local contractors have been enlisted to undertake the construction, with trusses already on order and preparations in place to begin building once materials arrive and weather conditions permit. The facility is projected to be operational by the following autumn, offering 32 child care spaces, an expansion from the existing Little Blue Daycare’s capacity of 20 children.
Despite the increase in available spaces, Naef acknowledged that the Big Blue Daycare alone will not fully address Dawson’s child care needs. Recent closures, such as the shutdown of the Little Critters daycare earlier this year, have left the town, with approximately 2,400 residents, with limited child care options.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the future use of the current Little Blue daycare building once the new facility is operational. One potential consideration is repurposing the space for after-school or summer programs catering to youth, as the community explores ways to maximize the existing infrastructure.
The transition to the new daycare facility signifies a significant step forward in meeting Dawson City’s child care demands, although further initiatives may be required to alleviate the ongoing child care challenges facing the community.