Regina Early Learning Centre’s preschool program at risk

More than 70 parents in Regina are demanding a change in leadership for the Regina Early Learning Centre. The preschool program, which assists low-income families, was recently canceled due to financial constraints. The petition calls for the replacement of all board members after the center operated in the city's Cathedral area since 1977.

Courtney Kydd, a former parent, describes the program as a source of family support, stating that the staff became like family to her and her children. Anne Luke, the founder, aimed to address the lack of care for low-income and Indigenous families in the community's education system. The preschool operates on the Reggio Emilia approach, a method recognized provincially and nationally for its holistic early intervention education.

Despite the preschool costing only $40 per year, it was recently switched to a $10-a-day daycare model, which is now unaffordable for many parents. The center claims the decision was made to address a $300,000 deficit and loss of a donor, but parents feel their concerns have been ignored. Gary Robins, a former employee and long-time volunteer, is fighting to save the preschool, emphasizing the profound step backward in closing down a stable resource in the community.