There was a lot of passion on both sides of an issue discussed by Prince Edward County council’s Committee of the Whole Thursday.
At issue was a proposal to offer daytime childcare for pre-schoolers at Athol Town Hall in Cherry Valley.
Currently, the lightly used hall is mostly used for community events by the Athol Recreation Committee and the Cherry Valley Women’s Institute. County staff’s research shows the hall was rented or used just 6% of the time between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., excluding statutory holidays, in 2023.
That statistic was seen as highly inaccurate by members of the Recreation Committee and Women’s Institute with one member reading out a long list of events of various kinds that have occurred at the hall.
The Hub Childcare & Family Centre proposes running a daycare for 24 children five days a week in the hall.
The rec committee and Women’s Institute worry about losing the ability to host community events such as their popular ham suppers and strawberry socials.
On the other hand the county is in desperate need of daycare spaces with the Hub having some 400 families on a wait list.
Athol ward mother of young children, Leah Garfield-Wright, said there should be no fight amongst the groups and that the community would be better off with a daycare.
“The values of supporting communities that has been highlighted by the Women’s Institute and rec committee can really be fulfilled with Athol having a daycare centre here.”
Another mother of young children, Rebecca Dunning, said that considering the demand, allowing the childcare centre should be an easy yes decision for the committee.
“In addition, the hall receives seriously needed repairs and upgrades at no expense to the groups who use it for recreation and they’ll give new purpose and new life to a historically under-used municipal building.”
In a draft proposal The Hub says it will replace the industrial dishwasher, put in fencing and create a playground that would be open to the community after hours and on weekends, renovate and make accessible both washrooms, and have shelving that will be easily removed and moved for community events.
In the draft proposal The Hub would not pay rent for the first year with county staff saying the capital upgrades being done would cost more than any rent the group would have to pay and that the hall’s operating costs would be reviewed at the end of the year to see if charging the daycare rent would be necessary moving forward.
Councillor Sam Branderhorst said collaboration between the three user groups was key.
“Let’s move in a way that we don’t say no to this opportunity for those 24 parents who’ve been spamming us (councillors) for the last 3 days constantly from parents saying “yes please” (to daycare) but let’s move in a way that also works for our community.”
After a two and a half hour discussion, the committee recommended staff continue to consult with everyone involved and work out exact details on how the hall will be shared by the various groups.
A detailed report leading to a five-year lease for The Hub Childcare & Family Centre will likely come to council for decision on June 25.
