Just under a year ago, Premier Rachel Notley announced 40 spots for Africa Centre as one of the 22 Early Learning pilot Centres across Alberta to offer $25/day child care services. Couple of months ago, the Alberta 2018 Budget announced creating an additional 4,500 affordable child care spaces to help working parents. I’m curious to know how the Africa Centre program is doing and how the centre is adapting to this new low cost program, a product of Alberta’s ruling NDP campaign promise turn reality. I made the short trip from Diversity Centre on 10510, 107 Avenue to Africa Centre location on 6770, 129 Avenue, Edmonton.
It was a bright sunny Thursday, March 22, 2018. I made my way through the half-melted icy streets to arrive at the back of the magnificent St. Francis of Assisi Friary, a building recognized as one of Canada’s Historic Places. It houses the Africa Centre and other community minded organizations in Edmonton. I called for the door to be opened. I was let in and immediately accompanied by the receptionist to Africa Centre Child Care Program, where Program Coordinator, Eleonore Tchayam, was waiting for me. Her big bright smile ushered the beginning of a one hour tour of the program area.
We chatted in her office about the program for a good part of 20 minutes before taking me to meet the children playing with the toys as staff assist them in the two classrooms. “We have 13 children in total with three rooms but only two are now open. We need 11 more kids to be full in the two rooms and 15 additional more to be able to get the third room upstairs going”. Eleonore continued, “We charge $25/day or $550/month. Parents can also apply for subsidy if they qualify. This is a very affordable program because of government funding”.
Four years old Masood was excited to pose for my camera and smiled when he saw the flash, while a young girl whose parents have not signed the photo waiver was unhappy at not being able to pose. Kids from 19 months to 5 years old are accepted into the program.
Africa Centre Childcare Program Coordinator employs six staff. The three present during my visit were very friendly and passionately playing with the children as they await registration information to maximize their capacity and expand to the third room.
Registration is going on and Eleonore was quick to point out that she can be reached by eleonore@africacentre.ca, or 780.455.5424, or cell 780.455.5424, for registration. “We need more children,” she said as I depart with another big bright smile.
