NationTalk: Winnipeg, MB, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - Today, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) celebrates the grand opening of the Louis Riel Child Care Centre, a 40-space centre designed to serve infant and preschool children, which will provide quality, culturally focused programming for the young Red River Métis in the area, create employment and allow parents to get back to their workplaces.
Frances Chartrand, Minister of Early Learning & Child Care at the MMF, has led the way on these facilities openings.
“We know that these centres can make a significant difference to our families and their communities,” said Minister Chartrand. “I’d like to thank the Honourable Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, for her partnership, working with us to ensure that parents can get back to work, confident that their children are at a reliable and high-quality childcare facility. Quality childcare matters and providing quality childcare that connects children to their cultural identity is the most important groundwork. By taking care of our children in this way, we are taking care of the future of the towns and cities we live in and the future of our Nation.”
The centre will offer programming celebrating Red River Métis culture, language, and heritage. Along with daily education that includes meaningful activities and land-based learning field trips, transportation, and a hot lunch program. In addition, the Louis Riel Child Care Centre will facilitate numerous parenting programs, including Little Métis Literacy Program, Stay, Play & Bead and Maa Mann Pi Soon Biibii (Mom & Baby) within the community.
“This is our eighth new childcare centre in Manitoba since 2019,” said David Chartrand, President of the MMF. “These centres ensure our children will grow up with pride and understanding of who they are and what it means to be Red River Métis. The centres also offer permanent and rewarding employment for child care educators, which creates economic spinoffs like giving families an income that can be used to purchase or upgrade homes, save for their children’s education, or perhaps even pursue education themselves – that’s the vision we’re working toward in all our Regions.”
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For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca