JOINT STATEMENT: MNO Secures Sault Ste. Marie Child Care Site to Preserve Licensed Spaces
The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) has purchased a child care centre property in Sault Ste. Marie, helping preserve licensed child care spaces in the community and expand access to affordable, culturally grounded early learning for local families.
The property, located within the city limits of Sault Ste. Marie, was at risk of being sold on the open market and potentially repurposed for another use. In response to the ongoing need for licensed child care spaces in the community, the MNO secured the site to protect it as a child care asset and support continued access to licensed care for families in Sault Ste. Marie.
The MNO will complete necessary renovations and upgrades to the space, with plans to reopen the centre as a Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC)-enrolled child care centre. Once complete, the renovated centre will offer licensed child care, Indigenous-focused programming, culturally grounded learning opportunities, and eight additional preschool spaces.
“I am thrilled to support the development of a child care centre in my home community of Sault Ste. Marie,” said Mitch Case, MNO Provincial Secretary of Education. “This centre will help ensure the next generation of Métis children have the supports they need to thrive, while staying connected to the community, culture, and people who help shape who they are.”
Once reopened, the site will remain dedicated to licensed child care, helping preserve local child care capacity and support the continued use of available spaces within the community’s broader child care system. As part of the CWELCC system, the centre will also help improve access to more affordable licensed child care by reducing parent fees for eligible families.
The centre will also advance Indigenous-led early learning in the region by creating a space where children feel welcomed, connected, and proud to grow within their culture.
The MNO and DSSAB signed a memorandum of understanding on September 17, formalizing their collaboration to develop licensed child care programs that support Métis children and families.
“DSSAB’s role is to support a strong, coordinated child care system that meets the needs of families across our community,” said Mike Nadeau, District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) CEO. “By working with the Métis Nation of Ontario, we are helping to enhance access to licensed child care and create more opportunities for families to access affordable, high-quality care.”
Throughout the transition, the DSSAB will work closely with currently enrolled families to support continuity of care and help identify alternative licensed child care options where needed. Additional operational details, including enrolment information, will be shared by the MNO as plans for the centre are finalized.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Métis Nation of Ontario
media@metisnation.org
District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board
R.Barsanti@socialservices-ssmd.ca