MEOTA — My apologies for not keeping you up to date on Meota news. My Mother passed away on Easter Monday, and I’ve been preoccupied since then. As we head into summer, the news is piling up. For starters, I have been corrected on a previous comment that I made about a daycare centre in Meota. Little did I know that there had been an active group in Meota working on a daycare for some time. The following is a write-up by Brieanne Stevenson, the chairperson for the Morningside Early Learning Centre in Meota.
The Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre
By Brieanne Stevenson
MSELC has embarked on an ambitious fundraising effort to establish a new daycare facility in Meota. The goal is to raise $700,000, with the funds being used to construct the building and provide essential resources for the centre. So far, the fundraising has successfully raised about $390,000. Once the building is completed, the daycare will open its doors to serve the community. There is currently an active waitlist for children to be enrolled in the centre, with more families reaching out to be on it. The Village of Meota is experiencing growth with an influx of families, but currently, there is no childcare available within the village. As a result, families are having to drive their children to nearby cities and smaller communities such as North Battleford, Edam and Turtleford for childcare services.
The Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for young children. The centre emphasizes building strong partnerships with families and the community to support the development and well-being of its future children. As a government-funded daycare, the centre will offer affordable and high-quality early learning opportunities.
In the fall of 2023, the Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre created a board of directors and has been actively fundraising since then. To support this initiative, the centre is hosting a golf scramble June 14 at the Meota and District Golf Course. The event will feature a silent auction. "Big or small, every item helps," said a representative from the centre.
The fundraising effort features a progress thermometer, which tracks donations towards the $700,000 goal. The thermometer is prominently displayed on the fundraising flyer, showing increments from $0 to $700,000 in $10,000 steps.
Supporters of the Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre are actively working to raise $700,000 to establish a daycare facility in Meota. The board’s next activity is a golf scramble June 14 at the Meota and District Golf Course. | Image courtesy Trudy Janssens
The new building will include a modernized play area and a multi-purpose room. These features are designed to create a more engaging and comfortable space for the children, fostering their growth and development. The centre has been working with Home Hardware in North Battleford to construct the building when the time comes. Additionally, the Village of Meota has generously donated an empty lot at 175-1st St. W. for the development of the new facility.
"We believe that investing in our children's early education is crucial for their future success," said a representative from the Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre. "With the ongoing support from in and around the community, we can provide the best possible environment for our young learners."
Donations can be made to the Village of Meota, and tax receipts will be provided for all contributions. For more information about the fundraising and how to donate, interested individuals can contact the centre at [email protected] or 306-317-6991. You can also follow our Facebook page, "Morningside Early Learning Centre," for updates and more fundraising events.
The Meota (Morningside) Early Learning Centre is grateful for the community's support and looks forward to achieving its fundraising goal to benefit the children and families it serves.
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The Walk/Run 2025 for Mental Health was an exceptional success. Organizers would like to acknowledge the support of the following organizations: Strathcona Energy has graciously donated $1,500. Discovery Coop donated a $200 gift card for the purchase of the lunch. Thanks to Crush Environmental for the use of the portable toilet, Meota ADRA’s $250 donation and Lakeshore Lions’ $750. To both clubs, we are grateful to you. We had many who wanted to give a cash donation, and Canadian Mental Health is issuing tax receipts beginning at $20. $6250. was raised just in Meota!
We wanted everyone to enjoy the excursion, and the weather was perfect, not even any wind. If at any point you were unable to continue, Marcel Duhaime had graciously donated his time, his team of heavy horses and a wagon so you could hitch a ride. As well, we had roaming golf carts that could shuttle you to the finish line.
Michele Winterholt from the Battlefords branch was on hand to bring greetings. The event was followed up on Saturday, May 3, with a gala night held in the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford. Our Meota five-kilometre walk/run was given an award called Champions for Mental Health. We were honoured to accept this award, but the truth is, it belongs to every single person who walked, donated, shared and stood up for mental health. Meota participants are the true heroes of this journey. Thank you, everyone, for walking the walk in every sense of the word.
Thank you to everyone participating in the walk to support mental health awareness and fundraising. Your steps, your spirit and your support are making a real difference in the lives of those affected by mental health challenges. Together we are breaking stigma, raising hope and showing that no one has to walk alone.
There are two upcoming plant (bake) sales coming up in Meota. The first is Saturday, May 17 at 9 a.m. at Meota’s United Anglican Church, and the second is on Saturday, June 7 at 3 p.m. at the Do Drop In.
Judging from the number of golf carts driving down Beach Avenue, the golf course is in full swing. The lake is ready for kayaking, SUPs and Sailboats. It won’t be long and Meota’s summer population will increase significantly. Time to drive slowly and enjoy the summer pace of the Meota.
