Children and families from through the East Kootenay are going to benefit from the expanded operations of the Kootenay Child Development Centre (KCDC).

And that expansion received a major boost today when the Community Connections Society of Southeast BC received $100,000 from the BC Liberal Government to help further develop the KCDC.

“We are thrilled and very grateful for the generous contribution from the Province of B.C. for the Kootenay Child Development Centre capital project. We would like to thank Health Minister Michael de Jong for his support of this initiative, and we would like to send a special thank you to (Kootenay East) MLA Bill Bennett.  Bill’s unwavering support and his advocacy with the Province of BC, Teck Coal and Columbia Basin Trust have helped secure a total of $500,000 in funding for our project,” said Community Connections Society of Southeast BC executive director Gwen Noble.

“The Kootenay Child Development Centre is an important initiative for the East Kootenay region as it will bring health and development services for children together in an easy, accessible, child and family-friendly location. The contribution from the province brings the fundraising campaign total to $1 million. With a projected budget of $1.1 million, we are very close to our goal and will soon be able to bring our centre to completion and get on with the important work of helping children,” Noble outlined.

“The funding from the BC Liberal Government will go a very long way in helping us achieve our mission to provide a child development centre that will benefit children by offering coordinated services, a coordinated team approach, less fragmentation, and a more efficient referral system,” said Patricia Whalen, East Kootenay Region Children First manager.

“The East Kootenay has a strong history of giving, ensuring that its families have the best care possible, and all of the donations we have received to date are truly inspiring.  The work the Kootenay Child Development Centre fundraising committee has done over the past two years has been nothing short of amazing,” she said.

“This project will benefit children and their families all across our region. I am proud of the amazing work done by Gwen, Patricia, Gayle and their band of enthusiastic volunteers. I urge citizens of the region to come out Thursday night and if you can, make a donation to this exceptional community asset. We are so close now to the $1.1 million needed to finish the project. Please do whatever you are able to do to help get this project over the top and completed,” stated MLA Bennett.

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC will move its existing services into the new CDC, creating a comprehensive central service system for the East Kootenay region – a valuable resource to families and children, all under one roof.

This will significantly reduce the distance families in the Kootenay region travel to access health and development services for their children.  And it will allow the CDC to build and strengthen their team of professionals, notes a press release issued this afternoon (March 27).

What the Kootenay CDC will offer: Two pediatricians; Infant development consultants; Occupational therapist; Speech language pathologist; Physiotherapist; Supported Child Development Program; Behavioural Intervention Program; Children First Program; East Kootenay Friends of Children; Children’s Assessment Network; Toy and equipment lending library; Assessment and play areas; Private family space; Visiting office space; Boardroom with teleconferencing equipment.

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC has been in operation for 30 years in the Kootenay region and currently manages over $2 million in government service contracts for supports to children and families.

To date, the Community Connections Society of Southeast BC has raised over $900,000 for this capital project.

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC has purchased the Kootenay CDC building and is renovating 7,000 square feet of the 14,000 square foot building to open this new services hub.

The new CDC will serve the following communities: Cranbrook, Creston, Invermere, Golden, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford and numerous smaller rural communities.

The Kootenay Child Development Centre is located at – #16, 12th Ave North (across from Safeway) Cranbrook.

Above photo (top left moving clockwise): East Kootenay Region Children First volunteer Gayle Brown, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, Community Connections Society of Southeast BC Executive Director Gwen Noble, and East Kootenay Region Children First Manger Patricia Whalen.

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