The Wetaskiwin Parent Link Centre is enjoying a recent boost, as grant money has allowed a major expansion of their centre.
The centre, located in Wetaskiwin 4415A 49 Street, between Nuts and Bolts and North Am Autobody, made the absolute best of some grant money they received to expand into another bay of their current building. In celebration, staff held a special events night Sept. 26.
Kids, parents and staff all enjoyed activities like cotton ball painting, fruit loop necklace making and cupcake decorating.
Julia Karg-Magas, Parent Link coordinator and Donnie Tafts, FCSS Regional Parent Link manager, agreed the expansion will benefit everyone involved in the resource.
Karg-Magas said the government previously identified densely populated communities like Wetaskiwin, with high needs, for increased funding. Tafts said staff already had ideas for expansion and the space was conveniently located in the same building.
Karg-Magas said one of the biggest benefits to expansion is that programs no longer have to compete with toys and play time. “That makes it a lot easier for us to set up meaningful activities,” said Karg-Magas.
As Wetaskiwin Parent Link has a variety of education activities like “Move and Groove,” for kids, and “Parent Café,” for parents, having separate rooms for each means a time and a place for everything.
Parent Link is provincially funded and has the goal of providing programs and supports for parents and caregivers with newborns to six year olds.
Karg-Magas added, “(Parenting) is a lot of work, a lot of responsibility.” She noted Parent Link offers lots of educational resources for parents and kids, “And we do a whole lot of fun things here.”
All Parent Link programs are free for the community with no volunteer requirement. It’s open in the evenings too. Visit www.centralparklandparentlink.ca for program information or call 780-352-3331.