‘Best Start’ hub to open in Stratton

The Rainy River District “Best Start” Network is announcing the opening celebration of the Stratton “Best Start” hub this Saturday (May 3) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with a cake-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m.
The hub is located in the Stratton Resource Centre at the intersection of Highways 11 and 617.
The “Best Start” hub is a welcoming place where families with young children can explore a variety of early-learning programs during drop-in or scheduled groups.
Workshops and information are offered on parenting and child development.
Also available are on-site lending services that include infant safety equipment and a variety of learning materials for both parents and children.
The “Best Start” hub will be familiar to some families as it has been placed in the Stratton Family Resource Program/Ontario Early Years Centre.
Though the name of the centre will change to “Best Start” hub, the same friendly staff will continue to offer many of the family support programs.
Over time, the hub will be able to incorporate more services for families by strengthening their linkages with other community services and organizations.
“This is what happens when programs and services come together for children and families,” said hub co-ordinator Marni McDonald.
“The ‘Best Start’ hub is a great equalizer for families—a place for all children to get the best start possible for school . . . for health . . . for life,” she added.
“While today marks forward movement of the ‘Best Start’ plan for Stratton, it is also a celebration of the commitment and dedication of our community partners to ensure the best start for all children,” noted Donna Cutler, who chairs the Best Start Network.
Families and other members of the community are invited to join the celebration and tour the “Best Start” hub starting at 10:30 a.m. with face-painting and a children’s sing-a-long with local musician Charlene Gustafson.
That will be followed by a cake-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. and then highlights from several of our feature programs in the afternoon.
There will be plenty of family activities, refreshments, appreciation gifts, and door prizes.
For more information about the celebration or “Best Start” hub services and programs, call 483-5319.