Grey County has approved the construction contract for a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre in Hanover, moving forward with plans to replace the existing facility.
The new centre will be a modern, fully accessible building designed to offer expanded program space and better support families as demand for services continues to grow. The decision was finalized during the January 22 meeting of Grey County’s Committee of the Whole.
“Investing in our children's early years is one of the most important things we can do as a community,” said Grey County Warden Andrea Matrosovs. “EarlyON centres provide valuable support for families as children grow and learn. I’ve seen firsthand how my granddaughter thrived during EarlyON visits and how it benefitted the parents, like my daughter, too. By building this new accessible facility, we're ensuring that families in Hanover have access to high-quality early learning programs for years to come.”
The construction tender was awarded to Allen Hastings Limited, with the total project cost coming in at $1,928,129. The new EarlyON centre will be built at Lot 22, Plan 846 on 17th Street Crescent in Hanover. JPM Architecture Inc. has been selected to design the facility and provide construction oversight throughout the build.
The current EarlyON centre at 515 9th Street is no longer sufficient due to aging infrastructure, limited parking, and a lack of accessibility. The new facility will include two playrooms, three office spaces, a meeting room, a kitchen, accessible washrooms, and outdoor play areas. The building is being designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring an all-electric heating and cooling system with no reliance on fossil fuels.
EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn and play with their children, meet other parents, and get advice from early childhood professionals. The free programs are open to families and children from birth to six years old.
Funding for the project is being drawn from the EarlyON Accessibility Reserve, the EarlyON Centre Building Reserve, the Child Care Mitigation Funding Reserve, and departmental surplus funds. Construction is expected to begin once weather conditions permit, with completion targeted for the end of 202
