The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, has announced a $2.1 million federal grant for the creation of a childcare centre at the Université de Saint-Boniface.
“This announcement is a significant win for the university staff and students and for Francophones in Manitoba.” said Morna Ballantyne, Executive Director of Child Care Now. “It shows what can be achieved when child care advocates persist.”
The Association des professeurs et professionnels de l’Université de Saint-Boniface (APPUSB) had been working towards this goal for nearly four decades. In 2015, APPUSB’s goal was propelled forward by student mobilization after a plan to open a child care centre on campus fell through.
The Student Association (AÉUSB) and the AÉUSB Child Care Committee mounted a campaign for campus child care, including a successful student referendum to contribute $750,000 for the establishment of a child care centre. The USB Board of Governors then agreed to find additional funding for the project.
