Construction has started at the site of Dawson City’s upcoming daycare facility following the approval of $2.7 million for the project. The funding for the Big Blue Daycare is sourced from the early learning and child care infrastructure fund of Yukon, which is backed by the Canadian government.
Brian Naef, a project oversight subcommittee advisor, mentioned that the daycare initiative has been in the planning phase for several years, and now progress is accelerating. The area has been excavated and filled with soil to create a level ground for construction.
Yukon’s Education Minister, Scott Kent, emphasized the importance of accessible child care services in Dawson City and other communities. Kent expressed satisfaction in advancing the construction of this vital facility.
A local contractor has been enlisted for the construction work, with trusses already on order. The contractor is poised to commence building once the supplies arrive and weather conditions permit. The completion target for the new daycare is set for next autumn, offering 32 spaces for children and replacing the existing Little Blue Daycare, which caters to 20 children.
Despite the increased capacity, Naef acknowledged that the Big Blue Daycare alone will not resolve Dawson’s child care shortage. Following the closure of the Little Critters daycare earlier this year, only two facilities are operating in the town of approximately 2,400 residents.
Plans are being considered for the future use of the Little Blue daycare building once the new facility is operational, with potential ideas including transforming it into an after-school or summer program space for youth.
