Kootenay Family Place celebrates 40 years

This organization has grown and diversified significantly since its inception and is now a hub for families in the West Kootenay

Early childhood educators Amanda and Colleen with some of the 20 children they look after on a daily basis at Kootenay Family Place’s Hobbit Hill Daycare Centre. — Colin Payne photo

Kootenay Family Place (KFP) was established in 1972 with the goal of providing daycare for working families in Castlegar; in January 2012, it will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.

KFP is a registered non-profit charitable organization based in Castlegar that provides an array of services to children, youth and families throughout the West Kootenay and Boundary regions. Along with providing basic child care, KFP is the source of specialized help for families—services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, infant development services, youth programs and information and support for parents.

“The whole field has evolved into looking at the early years,” said KFP executive director Jim Fisher of the organization’s development. “We try to identify children who may have challenges as early as possible and bring services to them.”

For instance, the infant development program targets children right from birth.

“We have a supportive child development program that follows children into other daycare centres and can provide funding for additional staffing for kids with special needs,” said Fisher. “We want to make kids successful right away so they can be more successful in other settings.”

The KFP Youth Centre provides a drop-in centre for youth as well as youth employment services. The KFP Neighbourhood House hosts a drop-in program for parents during the day, with classes in areas such as yoga, shopping and gardening. KFP also offers adult basic education services along with free child care through a partnership with Selkirk College.

“There’s a lot going on,” said Fisher. “The Neighbourhood House has expanded dramatically. We’re full to the brim and would love to expand our programming more, but right now there’s not enough funding.”

KFP gets 51 per cent of its funding from the provincial and federal governments and the rest comes from parent fees, fundraising efforts and grants—including plenty from Columbia Basin Trust. About 400 people use the facilities at KFP on an ongoing basis and there are many more on the waiting list.

“For infants and toddlers there’s a wait list of about 40 people in the community,” Fisher said. “It would be a big plus for the local economy if we could expand child care and get more folks working.”

He added that he has been happy to see an increase in support from local industry, with support from Teck for the Neighbourhood House and conversations happening with Zellstoff Celgar about potential support.

“It’s refreshing and really reinforcing to see a more corporate role in the community starting to happen,” Fisher said.

Throughout 2012 the staff at KFP will be holding a series of monthly events to celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary.

“We’ll be highlighting a program every month of the year in the local press and talking about our services,” Fisher said, adding that one of the more notable events will take place at Pass Creek Regional Park in July 2012, when some of the young parents who have been in the program over the years will be invited to a reunion.

“In October (2012) we’ll be bringing in some nationally recognized children’s entertainers and having an event that celebrates the different cultures of the Kootenays,” Fisher said.

To learn more about Kootenay Family Place, visit the website.