LLPC/Best Start officially opened!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Many people attended the grand opening ceremonies of the Learn, Laugh and Play Children’s Centre and Best Start Hub last Thursday evening.
The doors were opened to the public at 5 p.m. and staff members gave numerous tours to those in attendance.
Healthy snacks and sandwiches were served and then about 6:30 p.m. everyone was gathered into one of the classrooms where speeches were made.
Facility manager Gabe Langlais spoke about the vision the volunteer board and staff members shared several years ago. “Our vision was to provide families in the west end of the district with options of licensed childcare and an opportunity to enhance early learning which could be affordable.”
Langlais went on to thank current board members, Terri Anne Lundgren-President, Meghan Shanks-Vice-president, Janice Olson-Treasurer, Kathleen Nault-Secretary and Val Leininger. She made a special note to acknowledge the efforts of Past President Dianne McCormack. “She committed countless hours in preparing the original proposal for the Best Start Hub.”
President Terri Anne Lundgren said it best, “We are finally here! It was a long process but it was all worth it!”
Mayor Deb Ewald congratulated the board members and staff on a job well done.
Mildred Beck of Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board offered congratulations from DSSAB and complimented the board and staff for sticking the project out through many hurdles. At one time the LLPC/Best Start Hub were to be located in Riverview School. But while that was being looked at they moved into the Covenant Church in Rainy River. Then the tenders came in to high at the school and the temporary location at the church now seemed like it was to be home for a while.
Then the former Duty Free building was purchased and with extensive renovations ($698,090) it was officially occupied and now grand opened.
Beck said, “This is a beautiful facility; much more beautiful than I envisioned it would be.”
A letter from Deb Ramsey, Program Advisor for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ministry of Community and Social Services in Kenora was read. Having been involved in licensing the original Rainy River Playschool and Toy Library in the late 1970s and 1980s, Ramsey said, “Since the beginning these children’s services, operated by the small non-profit organization of volunteers, that we all know as the Rainy River Playschool Inc. have been a hive of family activity in the community and have flourished and diversified over the years. On behalf of the Kenora Office of the Ministry of Community & Social Services/Ministry of Children and Youth Services it is my pleasure to extend my very best wishes and congratulations...to the Board of Directors and the Staff of Rainy River Playschool Inc. for its past vision and ongoing investment in children, the most precious resource in the community.”
After speeches, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and cake and coffee were served.