Grant Secures Fencing for Daycare
Snow covered the ground when Little Seedlings Daycare Center in Wilkie, Sask., opened last December, but Michellene Hoey, director of the center, was already thinking ahead to the projects she knew would need to be tackled as soon as things thawed.
“We needed to invest in our outdoor space at the daycare,” says Hoey. “We installed snow fence for the winter, but permanent fencing, so the kids have a secure area to play, is at the top of our list.”
Hoey says the list is rather lengthy since right up until opening, the facility was a construction site.
“When that is done, we need to finish the yard itself because the kids are basically playing in mud whenever it rains,” she says. “We need landscaping, grass, sand, new paths, swing sets, and we’d like to include some natural elements – which all cost money.”
The project budget was exhausted by the time the building was completed, so it was with some relief when fellow board member, Kayla Slind brought ADAMA Canada’s Stomping Grounds community investment initiative to their attention.
Seeing that their project fit the funding criteria of strengthening the fabric of rural communities, the board submitted their application and was informed in April they were selected for a $7,500 investment from ADAMA.
“I was thrilled to death – it was a very exciting day,” Hoey says when she found out the project was selected. “I was the first to hear about it and so I notified all of the other board members right away and everyone was so excited and thankful.”
Stomping Grounds
Little Seedlings is one of 23 community projects from across Canada that received funding from ADAMA this year. The company invested a total of $127,000 into the 23 projects and has contributed over half a million dollars since 2018 to strengthen the fabric of rural communities.
Gord Hounjet, West Central Saskatchewan Area Business Manager with ADAMA Canada, had the honour of personally delivering the cheque and got to spend time with Hoey and some of the children.
“I’ve seen a lot of fences and a lot of mud in my days and can say without reservation that this money is going to good use,” says Hounjet. “The new facility is beautiful, but once the weather warms up, kids just want to get outside and play.”
Hounjet says during the tour everyone’s pride in the project was obvious, but less obvious to outsiders is the impact a project like this can have on a community.
“Michellene was saying how having a daycare like this is so important for things like attracting doctors, nurses, and other professionals to the town and it also has created 12 new jobs,” says Hounjet. “She also mentioned they are hoping to add some garden areas so the kids can grow things from seed – so maybe we’ll get a couple little farmers too!”