Expansion of infrastructure and pre-K spaces announced for Sheshatshiu

The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development was in Sheshatshiu First Nation on Monday to announce funding for up to 30 new regulated child care spaces at Shakashdupeishum Centre. Now what they'll work towards is getting the facility up infrastructure-wise to accommodate, and that's the $600,000 that will come under the C-Well program. And for those 30 seats, we'll have another $800,000 that will go towards the operating grant that will allow the parents to have their kids here at the $10 rate. There are roughly 400 children in Sheshatshiu who aren't school-aged, so any child care spots are coveted. Family support is a really big one, but in a lot of cases right now, families don't really have a lot of support. So for us to be able to bring 30 new spaces in Sheshatshiu, I think is really a really big deal for the community. Andrew says spaces at the center are in huge demand, and it could be seen at this year's program registration. We had a lineup of, I want to say, like 30 people in demand, you know, sitting outside 3 o'clock in the morning, you know, waiting for staff to come in at 8.30. So the needs are there. Dinn says that the pre-K program will help alleviate some of the pressure and that the province will be looking at all schools. But it all comes down to their infrastructure, if they're able to accommodate. And if not, we'll be looking at other ways to increase the access of the building. The young population is a good thing, but trying to get ahead of it is the real question. So getting the buildings and the spaces in place for that is something that we're going to continue to work on. If all goes as planned, renovations should begin on this building in May 2027. Reagan Burden, CBC News, Sheshatshiu First Nation.