The Estevan Day Care Co-operative held an open house event at their location just off Souris Avenue (Highway 47 north) on Sunday.
The event was held to allow prospective families an opportunity to explore the facilities with their children between 2 and 4 p.m.
"We're open on a daily basis from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., said Shawna Judd, programming director.
The centre is licensed for up to 90 youngsters between the ages of six weeks and 12 years.
Administrative director, Nikki Schreiner said the centre currently has a full complement of 22 employees as care givers and other services. She said at one point last year they were forced to reduce the enrolment due to the fact they didn't have all care giving positions filled, but that was only a temporary situation. The centre has always had a healthy waiting list, so the two women and the co-operative's board members are dedicated to keeping the positions, most of them full-time employment, filled.
"We have taken one of our two outdoor playground areas off service temporarily while we convert it to a wheelchair accessible site," said Judd. The other outdoor playground was busy on Sunday as was the upper level of the two-floor centre that formerly served as the Knights of Columbus Hall and has now been renovated and refurbished to accommodate an ambitious day care program.
"The staff we have here today are volunteering their time, which we really appreciate," said Schreiner.
"We have well trained, certified staffers," she added.
Judd said the centre was conducting a series of raffles and auctions, thanks to donations from local businesses, in an effort to raise additional funds to better equip both playgrounds and to replace aging playground items.
