The eleventh EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the District of Cochrane is open, and is already pioneering a new program. It could be a template for others.
The drop-in resource centre for children up to six years old and their families is at Spruce Hill Lodge Retirement Home in South Porcupine. It incorporates an intergenerational program with residents there.
Program manager for EarlyON in the district, Andrea Lauzon (ann-DRAY-ah LO-zohn) says it gives the children an opportunity to get to know the seniors and learn alongside them.
“To gain their wisdom, to learn about empathy and understanding towards others,” Lauzon adds. “It really is a great benefit to everyone.”
There’s no other program like this in the works right now, but Lauzon says things can change.
“I just really want to get my feet wet with this new centre and get a feel from it, and we’ll see where we go from there.”
To learn more about EarlyON in general, listen to the interview below.
