Standoff, AB – On October 18, 2023, the Blood Tribe Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) department officially broke ground with a sod turning ceremony at the site of the new Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre. Construction is set to begin immediately on the much-needed facility.
The Early Learning & Childcare Centre will be approximately 15,000 square feet with administrative offices, kitchen, day care, sensory rooms, and classrooms for the Headstart program. Pinotoyamaahka – Jim Plume, Manager at St. Mary’s Construction explains that sensory rooms are much needed on the Blood Reserve, as children are usually sent to facilities off-reserve for assessment and treatment. Sensory rooms are an essential resource to ensure a safe learning experience for children through their senses.
“This was a vision, it was a mission, and today it is a reality,” Maanistoko’si – Bruce Iron Shirt, Director of the Blood Tribe FCSS department stated. “It has taken many years to plan, organize, schedule and develop.” Iron Shirt expressed his gratitude to his team, project funders and developers, and Blood Tribe leadership.
The Blood Tribe FCSS department is proud to officially begin construction on the Early Learning & Childcare Centre and is expected to be complete by end of August 2024. The location of the facility will be near the Blood Tribe Public Works building and the Saipoyi Community School in Standoff, AB.
Kainai children at the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre sod turning ceremony in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Blood Tribe council member, Travis Plaited Hair leading the sod turning ceremony at the future site of the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Members of the FCSS department officially breaking ground at the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre sod turning ceremony in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Group photo of Blood Tribe leadership, FCSS department staff, project developers, children, and community members at the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre sod turning ceremony in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Leroy Wolf Collar(left) – Blood Tribe SEO, Jim Plume(center) – Manager at St. Mary’s Construction, and Bruce Iron Shirt(right) – FCSS Director, at the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre sod turning ceremony in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Maanistoko’si – Bruce Iron Shirt, Director of the Blood Tribe FCSS department speaking at the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre sod turning ceremony in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
Future site of the Blood Tribe Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Standoff, AB, on October 18, 2023. (Photo: Blaire Russell)
