Island's first trauma-informed, Indigenous-specific child-care centre opens in Colwood
Hulitan Early Years Centre is a brand new, 48-seat childhood learning centre in Colwood. It was built to support Indigenous children throughout the capital region.
"(It's a place) where Indigenous children and families can feel really safe and well taken care of,” said Kendra Gage, executive director of the Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, which runs the new facility.
"It is the first and only trauma-informed, Indigenous-specific child-care center on the island,” said Gage.
The centre aims to provide families with wraparound services for their children, free of charge to Indigenous families.
"We have cultural programming, we have therapists available, we have higher staff-to-child ratios,” said the executive director.
Parents call it a unique model unlike any other child-care centre their kids have attended.
"It's a place where I feel that my child is surrounded by love,” said Gretta Kawahara.
"Cody is just thriving here,” said Katlin Costello. “He really loves coming here and there is just nothing like it."
The centre was created through a partnership between many stakeholders, including the City of Colwood, the Ministry of Education and the Sooke School District, which donated the land. The district is leasing the land to Hulitan for the next 15 years for only one dollar.
"Facilities like this make sure that kids are not at risk,” said Paul Block, superintendent of the Sooke School District.
The centre is split between infant and toddler care and care for three-to-five-year-olds.
"Then we have our Journeys of the Heart program here,” said Gage.
That's a 10-month cultural learning program for Indigenous children and their families designed to nurture a child’s cultural identity.
"We're not asking children to fit into our world, we're going to pivot for them,” said Gage.
It’s a new take on early childhood learning aimed at creating a solid foundation going forward for Indigenous kids.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel launches strikes on military targets in Iran, escalating Mideast wars
Israel pounded Iran with a series of airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military targets in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier this month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.
'I did everything I could': Canada Post driver recounts helping save woman from fiery Tesla crash
Canada Post driver Rick Harper recounts how he and others helped save a woman from a Tesla that caught fire after crashing into a guardrail on Lake Shore Boulevard.
An abrupt goodbye to a guerilla goldfish aquarium beneath a leaky Brooklyn fire hydrant
A makeshift aquarium that popped up this summer in a puddle beneath a leaky fire hydrant in New York City has been paved over, to the dismay of neighbours who turned the area into a hangout spot and goldfish shrine.
Scotiabank confirms outage for mobile, online banking resolved
Scotiabank has confirmed outages affecting mobile and online banking services, according to a statement published to its X account.
Mother who beat and starved her 5-year-old son to death sentenced to over 50 years in prison
A New Hampshire woman was sentenced Friday to 53 years to life in prison in the death of her 5-year-old son, who was beaten, starved and exposed to drugs before his 19-pound body was found buried in a Massachusetts park in 2021.
Pizza inadvertently infused with THC sickens dozens in Wisconsin
Pizza inadvertently laced with THC has apparently sickened dozens of people in Wisconsin.
'Get away from your inner circle': Liberal MP 'shocked' PM didn't take more time to reflect on calls to resign
Longtime Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the views of his backbenchers in determining his future leading the Party, rather than relying on those in his immediate orbit.
Mom and child jumped from a window to escape a Las Vegas fire that killed 2 children and 2 adults
Two adults and two children were found dead in the charred rubble of a house fire after a mother and another child jumped from a third-floor window to escape flames in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood, authorities said.
Four arrested in Poland over alleged plot to send explosives via courier to Canada, U.S.
Polish authorities have arrested four individuals they allege planned to send parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials to Canada and the United States, according to Poland’s government website.