KidsLINK has new home
Posted Nov 21, 2010 06:08:15 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KidsLINK, a non-profit child and youth centre in St. Agatha, has replaced its 40-year-old portables with a new structure.
The building is divided into classrooms, counseling areas and child residences, and was not built on the KidsLINK premises.
“We have children on site so we didn’t want a large construction site that would be open for a really long period of time,” says Lisa Leiher, interim manager of the residential and day treatment program.
The new environment friendly building will be heated and cooled with a geothermal system, a first for the construction company. KidsLINK staff are hoping to move furniture into the new building this coming week.
The facility space is divided into classrooms, counseling and reflection areas and child residences, and will serve about 40 children.
The smudging room is a unique part of the building. This room will facilitate aboriginal children who wish to take part in the smudging tradition, which is the burning of sweet grass, sage or cedar, to create a positive mind-set.
“We’ve had children here of aboriginal heritage and we didn’t have the capability for them to participate in that tradition because of fire alarm systems. So it’s going to be really nice to have a space for it,” Leiher said.
Classes are scheduled to begin in the new facility on Jan. 4, 2011.
