Child care centre coming soon to CHC property

In a first for Calgary Housing (CH), a child care centre will soon be operating from within one of our properties.

Calgary Housing Company (CHC) is working with Thornhill Child Care Society on plans to use 4,000 square feet of space within CHC’s Lumino South property—located northeast from Chinook Mall in the community of Manchester—for child care. The plan got a major boost on July 31 when City Council approved a land-use amendment that paves the way for development of the centre to begin.

“We are very pleased for the residents of Manchester and area that City Council shares the vision for Lumino South,” says Teresa Goldstein, Acting Director, CH and Acting President, CHC. “There is a significant level of community interest in bringing day care to this area. It’s going to make lives better by bringing quality, affordable child care within reach for many of our tenants.”

The Alberta Government announced in April that Thornhill is one of the successful applicants for a new provincial child care program. The government funding is for Early Learning and Child Care Centres, providing care for children aged 0 to 6 years with maximum fees for parents of $25 per day.

Thornhill, a not-for-profit child care provider, will create 84 child care spaces within Lumino South and will offer other supports including services targeted to indigenous, immigrant and refugee children. CHC tenants will have priority access to the spots when the facility opens. With other subsidies, some low income tenants may qualify for child care at no cost when the centre opens.

CHC requested bids in June to transform the undeveloped second floor space in Lumino South for child care through a formal request for proposal process. Thornhill Child Care Society was successful at securing the space and qualifying for the provincial funding.

CHC and Calgary Neighbourhoods collaborated to assess community needs in Manchester last year. Residents indicated that access to affordable, quality child care was a clear priority.

Lumino South, is a mixed income housing development that has a range of affordable rents. The 12-storey building offers 88 affordable rental housing units. It is one of three buildings operated by CHC in the area.

The child care centre is scheduled to be open later this year. When it opens, CHC tenants living outside of Manchester will also have access to child care spots as space permits. In order to qualify for the subsidy program, parents must be enrolled in full-time education, be gainfully employed, or be of diminished capacity and require assistance to raise their children.