The Melfort Daycare Co-operative opened its doors to 15 children on September 4, 1979. In a matter of months, it was operating at full capacity with 30 spaces filled. The success of the organization began in the fall of 1978, when a small group of women came together, put in long months of hard work and committed energies, and made a dream become reality. 

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The work involved in the planning phase included a wide range of tasks: liaising with government officials in the Daycare Division and the Department of Co-operatives, compiling necessary research and documentation (70% of working women felt there was a need for a daycare in Melfort), securing a suitable location (the basement of the Salvation Army), securing necessary grants (Local Employment Opportunities Program along with a provincial government start-up grant), discussion on philosophy/programming/staffing/procedures, creation of a daycare brochure, completing fire and health inspections, and hiring of all staff. The daycare then changed location in March 1981 to the old Masonic Lodge on Crawford Avenue.

 

Today the daycare currently operates out of three locations, with it recently going back to its roots and opening a school-age program in the upstairs of the Masonic Lodge. In addition to the school age program the daycare operates out of 116 Macleod Avenue W. and a rented wing of the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate. The daycare initially cared for 15 children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years and is now equipped to care for 105 children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. 

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The Melfort Daycare Co-operative is a non-profit organization managed by a board of directors. By regulation, the board was set up as parent-controlled and there continues to be many aspects of the daycare’s operation which require parent volunteers. It has always functioned on the basis of identified needs in the community – with the needs of the children having top priority. Throughout the years, policies and procedures have evolved, daily operations look a little different, there have been many changes of board members, staff, children, and parents – but the basic philosophy remains intact – to provide a secure physical, emotional, and intellectual environment for the children who come to our daycare.