MSVU Child Study Centre growing with $5M government investment

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia today announced a multimillion-dollar expansion of the Child Study Centre at MSVU. The total cost of the project is $10 million. Half is being contributed by government ($2M provincial and $3M federal). The university will raise the remaining $5 million.

Government representatives, members of MSVU's senior leadership team, Board representatives, faculty, staff and children from the MSVU Child Study Centre gathered on campus for the announcement (May 10, 2024).

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, MP for Halifax West; the Honourable Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development; and the Honourable Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education, shared the good news on behalf of government. Dr. Christine McLean, Chair and Associate Professor with the department of Child & Youth Study at MSVU, served as event emcee while Melanie Waye represented centre parents.

When complete in 2026, the new 15,000 square foot centre will be the region's leading and largest school for childcare that focuses on infants and young children.

The current Meadows building on campus (at 175 Seton Road) will be the site of the new Child Study Centre.

In its new home, the expanded centre will have triple the number of child care spaces it does now, including spaces for infants under 18 months (the current centre does not have infant spaces).

These additional spaces will help address the acute shortage of quality, accessible childcare spaces. But the story doesn't end there.

In expressing her gratitude for this funding, MSVU President Dr. Joël Dickinson also described how the new centre will have a sector-wide impact.

"That's because the MSVU Child Study Centre is also a leading centre for teaching and research in early childhood education. And the expansion announced today will mean expanded capacity in both of those areas too," she said.

Dr. Dickinson noted that new high caliber teaching spaces will support professional development opportunities for those already working in the sector and will be key learning spaces for greater numbers of students pursuing early childhood education as their chosen profession.

And in the expanded centre, faculty, together with community partners, will engage in advanced research that will be disseminated across the early childhood sector in the Atlantic region and beyond. That research will contribute to public policy and help ensure the best possible evidence-informed early childhood experiences for kids everywhere.

Said Dr. Dickinson, "Ultimately, an investment in early childhood really is an investment in brighter futures and better societies. And we are tremendously proud to be a part of that work here at MSVU."

News release from the NS Departments of Education and Early Childhood Development and Advanced Education

10 May 2024 | 10:11 AM

Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) will add more spaces to its child study centre in Halifax and expand the age groups it serves with funding support from the provincial and federal governments.

This will help meet the need for child care in the community and enhance the education and professional development of aspiring early childhood educators in the university's child and youth study program, while offering research opportunities in the field.

"We are pleased to support the expansion of MSVU's child-care facility. Families need greater access to reliable and affordable child care, and we need more professionals to provide that care," said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. "We're proud of the work MSVU is doing to help meet the needs of families in the community."

The larger facility will add an additional 82 spaces and introduce up to 32 infant spaces. Parents who are on the existing wait list will be given priority.

Design work is underway; construction is expected to take about two years.

MSVU will also explore offering flexible hours at the centre to accommodate shift workers, particularly healthcare workers.

This initiative is part of the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which supports the child-care system so all families have access to affordable, high-quality and inclusive care when and where they need it.

Quotes:

"Nova Scotia's post-secondary institutions play an important role in helping to address labour shortages and prepare the next generation. MSVU's expanded centre will help prepare early childhood educators for the workforce while providing quality care for children in this learning environment. We're proud to support investments like this that will make a real difference for families."
- Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education

"These new child-care spaces at Mount Saint Vincent University will make life easier for parents and students in the community. We will continue working with Nova Scotia to meet our shared goal of creating 9,500 new child-care spaces across the province by March 2026."
- Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"An investment in early childhood really is an investment in brighter futures and better societies. We are tremendously grateful for the provincial and federal government investment announced today through which we will ensure that MSVU continues to serve as the region's go-to resource for best practices in early childhood for years to come. Not only will this funding create more child-care spaces and support research of sector-wide benefit, but it will also mean expanded teaching capacity in support of greater numbers of students pursuing early childhood education as their chosen profession."
- Joël Dickinson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Mount Saint Vincent University

Quick Facts:

• MSVU's child study centre currently operates a full-day program for 40 children from 18 months to five years
• the expansion is expected to cost $10 million, with $2 million from the Province, $3 million from the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and $5 million from the university
• Nova Scotia, in partnership with the federal government, now invests $333 million annually in early learning and child care

Additional Resources:

MSVU child study centre: https://www.msvu.ca/campus-life/campus-services/child-study-centre/

Employment and Social Development Canada news release - Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia Release Early Learning and Child Care Action Plan: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2024/02/governments-of-canada-and-nova-scotia-release-early-learning-and-child-care-action-plan.html

More information on early learning and child care is available at: https://childcarenovascotia.ca/

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