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Community celebrates HUB’s 30th anniversary of family and child care

Randy the magician entertained young and older at the HUB’s 30th anniversary celebration Saturday.

The community celebrated the 30th anniversary of the HUB Family and Child Care Centre in Picton Saturday with family-friendly fun indoors, and outside.

More than a dozen vehicles pulled in to join the ‘Touch-a-Truck’ lineup which included various farm equipment, police, fire, Hydro trucks, a cement truck, race car and school bus. Children (of all ages) were spotted peeking inside the vehicles to examine the unknown and some pretended to take the wheel.

Inside the newly-retrofitted space at 10 McFarland Drive, Picton, families toured the new spaces while children played, made crafts, had their faces painted, and enjoyed a magician’s performance.

 

The HUB started its retrofit of child care spaces in the fall due to high enrolment in toddler and preschool age groups. Plans for an expansion are now under way to further meet the needs of children and their families.

Susan Quaiff, the HUB’s executive director, said the six-month retrofit allows more children to get off the waiting list for programs, and back from rented spaces at the nearby Rick Hotston Centre.

“The expansion plan is in the works to bring everything back to the HUB again,” she said. “We’re really growing.”

Now there’s 81 spaces in total (up from 49) for licensed child care and the Hotston Centre is still in use for administration and parent-child play groups.

“We were seeing such an increase in parents looking for child care and all the programs are filling up quickly again,” she said noting the need for child care is an economic driver. “More and more, both parents work and they need that quality care.”

Kim Hicks, administrative assistant, brought her children to playgroups at the HUB and now her grandchildren learn and play there when they’re visiting Nana. She has worked there since it was known as Prince Edward Child Care Services in 1989.

“It just keeps growing,” said Hicks. “Susie (Quaiff) has really led the cause for the first build, the retrofit and now, the coming expansion… Generations are going through here. It’s wonderful.”

Quaiff, at the official ribbon cutting, thanked the families who came to celebrate, volunteers, contractors, local businesses, staff, board members and individuals whose contributions made the plans come true, and the day special.

“We’re just overwhelmed with the response from everyone,” she said.

MP Neil Ellis, MPP Todd Smith were applauded for federal and provincial support of the project.

“It speaks volumes for an organization to be celebrating 30 years,” said Ellis, who, on behalf of the federal government presented a plaque recognizing the HUB’s milestone.

“You’ve been providing a tremendous service in the community,” added Smith. “The fact that you’re expanding means that service is needed more and more.”

County Mayor Steve Ferguson also brought congratulations to the HUB, attending with several councillors.

“Organizations such as the HUB contribute so much to the well-roundedness, and upbringing of our youth and teach them such important life skills. Congratulations.”

The not-for-profit organization has served children and their families since 1989 in four main program areas for babies to 12-year-olds – including licensed child care at their centres in Picton and Rednersville; licensed home care throughout the County, and at the McFarland Drive headquarters, the family centre, Ontario Early Years and Middle Years programs.

Click here to visit the HUB website,  or Facebook  for details on programs and services.

 

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