More than 100 community members, staff and volunteers celebrated the Sept. 28 grand opening of Sunshine Coast Community Services Society’s (SCCSS) The Family Place, in Sechelt.
The grand opening celebrated the newly renovated space at 5520 Trail Ave., which is now a multi-service space for families with children from birth to six.
The event featured local children’s performer Mr. Doug, who had everyone dancing and singing along to his hilarious children’s music. Children were able to play in the new outdoor and indoor spaces and participate in activities like rock painting with local artist Nurit Weiss.
Executive director Catherine Leach, along with The Family Place staff and local children, cut the ribbon for the new site while thanking the hard work of staff and volunteers who made it possible. Shirley French, SCCSS family resource program lead, also thanked the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation and Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary for their ongoing support of SCCSS programs for children from birth to six.
Event participants included long-time former staff of SCCSS, whose vision of family and children programming on the Coast laid the foundation for The Family Place to be possible.
The Family Place offers a warm and welcoming space for pregnant women, mothers, fathers, and caregivers with young children. The site includes a stimulating and enriching playroom for drop-in programming and child-minding, a comfortable home-like setting for parenting programs, support groups and consultations, and a large kitchen for providing snacks and meals, and hosting a community kitchen. The programs promote the importance and the power of play to children’s growth and development while supporting the entire family in their parenting journey.
To learn more about SCCSS or its programs, visit www.sccss.ca
– Submitted
