“There’s No Place Like Hope.” That’s the name of the capital fundraising campaign for Hope’s Home, to open Saskatoon’s first medically inclusive child care centre. A building on Fairmont Drive which used to be a bowling alley is being renovated and will feature two separate centres caring for 144 kids, with spaces held for kids with complex medical needs.
The Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation has donated $150,000 to the campaign. Board Chair of the Corporation, Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, says, “We proudly support Hope’s Home’s work towards inclusion and participation of children with complex medical needs in a safe space with the high-quality care they need.”
CEO and Founder of Hope’s Home, Jacqueline Tisher, says, “In line with our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Hope’s Home places great importance on celebrating the Indigenous and First Nations cultures of the children we serve.” She adds that Saskatoon families will have access to child care that meets the medical needs of their children and celebrates the diversity of First Nations and non First Nations children.
Hope’s Home includes inclusive classrooms, special adaptive equipment, on-site nursing care, early childhood educators, developmental workers and physical development consultants. About a month ago, the child care centre opened to a few children but the renovations are still going on and it won’t be up to its full capacity of 144 kids for about a year. Hope’s Home has four medically inclusive child care centres with two in Regina, one in Warman and one in Prince Albert, with Saskatoon’s centres in the works. Hope’s Home also has four supportive living homes – two in Saskatoon, one in Regina and one in Prince Albert.
For more information or to donate to the “There’s No Place Like Hope” capital campaign, click here.