Families in Binscarth and the surrounding area will soon see more childcare spaces become available when an ambitious expansion project by Little Bloomers Learning Patch comes together.
Little Bloomers has been part of the Binscarth community for quite a while. The board was first formed back in 2009 with the goal of creating a childcare centre that local families could rely on. After several years of planning, fundraising, and hard work, the centre officially opened in February 2013.
Since then, it has grown along with the community and become an important part of everyday life for many families.
For years, the program has operated within Binscarth School, and organizers say they are very grateful for the support they have received from the school and from Parkwest School Division. Right now, the centre runs a mixed-age room licensed for 12 children, and it’s full.
There is also a nursery school program licensed for 10 children and a school-age program licensed for 12 children in a separate room at the school, which are also at capacity.
The nursery school runs three mornings a week and continues to serve as many children as possible within the limits of the available space.
At the moment, Little Bloomers is operating at full capacity in every program it offers, and the waitlist continues to grow. The centre currently has about 50 families on the waitlist, and that number is expected to increase as the community grows.

Read more of what "Little Bloomers" is all about on the front page and page 2 of this week's Russell Banner.