A little boy who attends the early learning centre at Cape Breton University claps his hand enthusiatically along with the crowd of about 75 people at the announcement on campus about a new child care facilty being built there. NICOLE SULLIVAN/CAPE BRETON POST Nicole Sullivan / Cape Breton PoArticle contentA little boy spun circles off to the side of the room at Cape Breton University while the announcement that would impact families like his was made.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThat announcement will see Cape Breton University triple its child-care spaces with a new early-learning facility on its campus. The centre will be a partnership between the province and the university and will be built on university property behind the new medical school.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAnnounced at a press conference held at CBU on Friday, the new facility will have 104 spaces for children (infants to preschoolers). That is three times more than their current 35 seats.Article content“We have an extensive waiting list for childcare spaces at CBU. We have faculty, we have staff, we have students with children and the need for childcare spaces is at an all-time high,” said CBU President David Dingwall.Article content“With 35 spaces, it’s just not enough. So, up to 104, you’ll see fill up very, very quickly. That’s very good for recruitment purposes, both for faculty and staff as well as students who want to come here that have children.”Article contentBrandon MacGuire, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, was at the announcement and addressed the crowd of about 75 adults and 25 children from the current daycare.Article contentArticle content“We’re really happy that CBU has stepped up for this; 104 seats in Cape Breton is going to make a difference,” he said. “Very happy to be a part of this. I think President Dingwall and CBU have done an outstanding job and this is a big, big step forward for the community.”Article contentArticle contentAt this time, Dingwall said there was no expected completion date and it was too early to know the cost of construction or amount of funding needed for the build of the new early learning centre.Article content MLA John White gives the opening remarks at the announcement at child care facility announcement at Cape Breton University. NICOLE SULLIVAN / CAPE BRETON POST Nicole Sullivan / Cape Breton PoArticle contentPART OF THE FEDERAL PLANArticle contentCBU is the latest organization to receive some of the funding given to the province by the federal government through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.Article contentFormer Education Minister Derek Mombourquette was the lead in Nova Scotia’s negotiations with the federal government, which was signed in 2021.Article content“We had the opportunity to work with the federal government to negotiate that deal to have $10 a day daycare by 2026 and here we are today, with a great announcement, over 100 seats here at CBU,” said Mombourquette.
Cape Breton University to triple child-care spaces with new facility
