New University of Regina daycare adds dozens of spaces for Regina families

A lot of names have been taken off the waiting list for a daycare spot thanks to the opening of a new centre at the University of Regina.

The grand opening of the Awasis Child Care Centre was held on Friday morning. The 90-space daycare centre is located in the new Kīšik residential towers.

The opening of the new centre also allows the existing Wascana Daycare Co-operative to expand their child care spaces to 90 from 45 in the College West Building. Those new spaces are expected to be available next spring.

At the grand opening, university president and vice-chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons said it’s important that the school serves all of its students’ needs.

“To have a comprehensive university that really serves students, you need a daycare on campus for the students, for the faculty, for the staff,” Timmons said. “We have a higher percentage of students who have children than the national average.”

Awasis executive director Sheila Pelletier says the new spaces come at an important time; wait times for child care spaces in Regina range from one year to 18 months.

“Our wait list is growing every day from people that are attending university right now or new people migrating into Regina,” Pelletier said.

The provincial government invested $1.34 million into the new centre.