June 4, 2018 – The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board is receiving over $2.2 Million from the Province of Ontario to support new Child Care and EarlyON programs for Indigenous children and families in Sault Ste. Marie.
This funding is part of the Government of Ontario’s The Journey Together: Ontario’s Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples funding commitment to invest up to $250 million in programs and actions focused on reconciliation: developed and evaluated in close partnership with Indigenous partners. Programming will be inclusive of traditional teaching and ceremonies, language immersion, and land-based activities to create culturally relevant child care and learning spaces.
Three community partnerships were successful under the Journey Together funding opportunity, one of them being up to 37 new infant to preschool daycare spaces as part of the Homeward Bound Initiative, a partnership between Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS), the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre, District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board, Sault College and Algoma University.
“Everything came together at the right time to make this happen. This time next year we will be moving mothers and children into their new homes”, commented Justin Marchand, Executive Director of OAHS.
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