It was all wrapped up with a bow during the opening celebration of the new childcare facility room at the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) on Feb. 24.

 

The ribbon was cut, and the doors will open on March 2, to 24 new little ones, creating a total of 152 spaces at the CFB Shilo MFRC, with plans for further expansion to meet the needs of a growing community.

 

CFB Shilo Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Nguyen, and MLA and Special Envoy for Military Affairs David Pankratz were honoured guests at the ceremonies.

 

LCol Nguyen said the new spots will make a difference to Shilo families at one of the country’s best day cares, made that way by the staff who look after the children.

“Families trust it, kids love it, and the reputation speaks for itself. But what’s special today is that we’re building on that strong foundation. We’re taking a program that already delivers outstanding support and expanding to meet the growing needs of the CFB Shilo community.”

 

He said in particular that the expansion has not finished.

 

“I’d also like to add that we are not done yet. We’ve got the daycare that’s in place. We’ve got these additional places here, but we have already started laying the groundwork for an additional expansion of our daycare facilities in the region. More to follow on that and what that looks like, but it’s already started, and we’re working heavily, [hence] I invited our Province to attend today…”

Daycare is not a mandated operation of the MFRC, LCol Nguyen said. He commended the MFRC Board of Directors for “backing the expansion with leadership and expertise in tackling the challenges that go beyond the typical mandate of the MFRC.”

 

“This is borne upon us by the Board, who recognize the community needs a service here, because of the distance we have from Brandon and other services. The team here does an outstanding job of getting it done.”

 

Pankratz said it is significant to highlight the importance of homegrown work in supporting military families.

 

“This is about the people behind the scenes doing a ton of work who aren’t right up front,” he said.

 

“As a Special Envoy for Military Affairs, my main role is just to make sure that military families are supported in this province when they’re serving our country. So, in a time when we know there [will be] be massive investments and massive increases in recruitment and retention with work going into this, we cannot do any of that without this grassroots work.”

 

Director of Children’s Services at the MFRC, Chris Cable, said the opening ceremonies weren’t just about opening a new preschool space, but opening the doors to possibility.

“This room represents curiosity, growth and the joyful noise of children discovering who they are and what they can be. Creating the space took dedication, collaboration and a shared belief that children deserve environments that inspire them,” she said.

 

“Most importantly, the space belongs to the children. It’s a place where they will learn, explore, build friendships and feel safe to take risks and try new things.”