Ribbon-cuttings are customary at grand openings, but something much more fitting occurred at the grand opening of the new Discovery Early Learning & Care Main Site on May 9.
Remaining mostly tantrum-free through 20 minutes of speeches by dignitaries thanks to some bubble-blowing by their caregivers, toddlers attending the New Sudbury daycare proudly placed rocks painted for the occasion in a rock garden next to the building.
“This is truly a special day, not only for our team, but for every family, educator and child who walks through those doors,” said Discovery executive director Tracy Saarikoski.
“Opening a child care centre is more than launching a new facility. It's about planting the seeds of growth, learning, joy and love in a safe and nurturing environment.
“Here at Discovery Early Learning & Care, we believe in creating a space where children are free to explore, where curiosity is celebrated and where every child feels valued, seen and supported.”
Located in the former Leon XIII School at 1311 Gemmell St. alongside Gymzone Gymnastics, the new daycare centre is licensed for 134 children from infants to school age.
Discovery’s former main site in Garson, which was located in First Baptist Church, had just 50 spaces, meaning the new site adds a net 84 child care spaces for local families.
The daycare operator also has four other sites in Greater Sudbury, all of them in schools.
A $2.2-million capital project, these expanded spaces were made possible with Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care System expansion funding from the provincial and federal governments.
“It's good news for families who have been on waiting lists, but the waiting lists are still large,” said Saarikoski.
To give an illustration, Saarikoski said the new site is licensed to care for 10 infants, but there are 175 infants on the waiting list.
She said more capital dollars are needed to build licenced child care spaces, and the province needs to invest in paying early childhood educators more too.
Discovery Early Learning has signed onto the federal government’s affordable child care plan, she said.
“There's pieces that are missing in this new agreement for $10-a-day child care, as most people know it, but it is becoming more affordable,” she said.
“As of Jan. 1, 2025, families pay only $22 a day for child care. If they require subsidies and assistance of any kind, there's still that available to that family through Children's Services, which reduces it even more. By the end of 2026, we should be at a space of $10 a day.”
Among the dignitaries who spoke at the event were Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, Deputy Mayor Al Sizer and City of Greater Sudbury director of children and social services Tyler Campbell.
Lapointe said she’s very proud of the federal government's commitment to $10-a-day child care.
“I know that there are parents here with children, and I've spoken with many of you,” said the recently re-elected Liberal MP.
“Some of you shared with me that your monthly daycare costs are more than your mortgage fees and that has to stop, and the $10-a-day child care goes towards that. But it's not enough. We know we need more spots. We know we need more early childhood educators. That's the greatest barrier to be able to expand. So we remain committed. We will continue our agreement with Ontario. We will continue to hold their feet to the fire as well as ours.”
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.