Renovations are getting underway at the Ripley Medical and Child Care Centre.
According to a statement from the Township of Huron-Kinloss, the project will not only create much needed licensed child care spaces, it will also provide the necessary updates to reopen the Ripley Medical Centre to doctors and other healthcare professionals.
"The renovations at the Ripley Medical Centre demonstrate council’s commitment to bringing healthcare closer to home for our residents," said Mayor Don Murray. "We are excited to welcome Dr. Murray and the Kincardine Family Health Team back into the facility. The additional licensed child care spaces provided by the renovations come at a time when parents need quality, affordable child care options; we are lucky to have the YMCA and our other child care providers supporting families in Huron-Kinloss."
Huron-Kinloss secured funding through the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Near-Term Investment Fund, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Start-up Grant, and from the Community Well-Being Reserve Fund to complete this project.
“Through this investment, our government is partnering with the federal government to ensure proper supports are in place for residents of Huron-Kinloss” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “And this, in turn, will lead to benefits throughout the local community: more people can access quality child care close to home, more kids will be in a safe space where they can learn, socialize, and gain a sense of autonomy, and more parents can return to work and advance their careers."
The Township of Huron-Kinloss partnered on the project with the Kincardine Family Health Team, Dr. Murray, The YMCA of Owen Sound Grey-Bruce, the County of Bruce, the NWMO and the Province of Ontario. The renovations will begin in April and be completed by July 2024. During this time, the Ripley Y Child Care Centre will operate out of the Ripley-Huron Community Centre.
“Bruce County, as a service system manager, takes pride in ensuring that the licensed child care and early years system is collaborative, responsive, and accountable in meeting the current and long-term needs of families across the County,” added Warden Chris Peabody. “We are excited to continue working in partnership with the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce and the Township of Huron-Kinloss to support families in receiving high quality, affordable, inclusive, and accessible licensed child care options.”
Once the renovations are complete, Dr. Murray will resume seeing patients at the centre (when possible) and the Kincardine Family Health Team will circulate their healthcare providers through the centre to see patients as well. The County of Bruce and the Township of Huron-Kinloss will continue to support the recruitment of Early Childhood Educators through funding programs, training, and marketing efforts.
“This is a great example of what we can achieve when we get the right people around the table with the community’s best interests in mind. I’m particularly proud to see this project come to life as I depart my role as Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Huron-Kinloss,” said Mary Rose Walden, outgoing CAO.