The news is as exciting as a birth announcement: After years of anticipation, a new daycare centre has arrived on the grounds of the Jewish General Hospital.
The 80-place CPE Les frimousses du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest welcomed its first children to its brightly coloured premises on November 8, marking the culmination of years of sustained efforts from managers and employees of our CIUSSS.
“This is a dream come true,” says Beverly Kravitz, Director of Human Resources, Communications, Legal Affairs and Global Security. “Many years of tenacious, hard work have come to fruition and made this a reality for our staff.”
The centre occupies the entire ground floor of Pavilion N on Côte-des-Neiges Road. The site has six classrooms stocked with educational toys and pint-sized tables and chairs, along with two adjoining outdoor play areas.
Daycare Director Josie Gemma says she wants to turn the centre into “a home away from home” for her tiny charges.
“We want parents to have peace of mind when they go off to do the important work they do, knowing that their child is well taken care of,” she says.
David Diachidos, President of the daycare centre’s Board of Directors, says parents can count on top-notch staff. “We’re extremely lucky that we’ve managed to find a team of such exceptional educators, who are all aligned with the values we’ve set for the daycare, of learning through play,” says Mr. Diachidos, Chief of Laundry and Linen Services.
The launch of the centre is the fulfillment of a long-standing dream and the result of steadfast, behind-the-scenes work. Among those credited with shepherding the project from idea to reality are Ms. Kravitz and HR Associate Director Amina Talib; Technical Services Director Georges Bendavid and Elif Genç, Architect in the Planning Group; and Keith Hardie, former Interim Associate Director of HR, who maintained his efforts as a volunteer.
Chief Legal Counsel Nathalie Lecoq and Julie Ricciardi, Assistant to CIUSSS President and CEO Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, helped steer the project through numerous official channels.
“It took teamwork to successfully get through all the administrative steps,” says Ms. Ricciardi, citing the approvals required from municipal authorities and Quebec’s Family Ministry. “This is a testament to the determination of our team to make the opening of the daycare centre a reality for the employees of our CIUSSS.”
Priority at the CPE Les frimousses (CPE stands for Centre de la petite enfance) is given to the children of CIUSSS employees. Of the centre’s 80 spots, 10 are reserved for 9- to 18-month-olds, while 70 are for children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years. The daycare is welcoming children gradually, over a period of several weeks, to ensure their best possible integration.
Interested in Les frimousses du CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest? You can register your child through the Guichet unique d’accès aux services de garde, a government portal also known as La Place 0-5. Or you can call 514-270-5055.
For questions about registration, you can contact the daycare centre at info.lesfrimousses.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
