A 40-space childcare centre is to be built inside Watford United Church on Ontario Street.
Design plans were presented at a recent Warwick Township Council meeting, by Ross George and Mark Steadman of George and Steadman Properties.
The construction and property management company has built, or is working on, similar projects in Wyoming, Courtright, and Brigden.
"There will be two childcare rooms, one accommodating 16 children and the other accommodating 24 [children]. So, 40 children every day will be supported through this facility, quite likely more than 40 families, because not everybody sends their children every day to daycare. So, the spinoffs and support that this centre is going to bring to the community is huge," Steadman said while presenting proposed floor plans.
The centre will be operated by North Lambton Childcare.
What is currently the parlor and Christian education wing in the church, will be redeveloped for the daycare. The food bank, which currently operates there, will be moved.
"The food bank is a big part of their ministry and what they do with that building, and it was important to Mark and I that that continued," Steadman said. "We have met with the food bank [operators] and we have developed a plan to relocate them to the basement of the church in a new space that will be designed and constructed for the food bank specifically."
An outdoor play space, with sandboxes and hills rather than permanent play structures, is being planned for the children.
The designs followed recommendations from the Ministry of Education for children under school age.
The church's main sanctuary won't change much, and services are still being scheduled during and after construction.
Mayor Todd Case expressed his excitement for the new facility, saying it’s good news for the underserved area.
"Gentlemen, I'd like to thank you for making this investment in our community," Case said. "It truly is a win, win, win. The church wins, the food bank wins, and the young people and the families in our community win."
