Lambton County to build new child-care center near Petrolia

Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley says he’s “thrilled” Lambton County will build a new child-care center just outside of his town.

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County council voted Wednesday to spend about $5.8 million on a one-storey addition to Lambton Meadowview Villa, a county long-term care home on Petrolia Line in Enniskillen Township, for a 49-space child-care center.

It will be a second child-care center at the site. Generations Day Care has operated in space at Meadowview Villa since 1987.

“There’s such a need in the Petrolia and area,” Loosley said.

The town needs 120 more spaces to meet the province’s child-care target, the county said in a report.

“It’s not going to handle everything, but it’s a big step in the right direction,” Loosley said.

Provincial and federal grants of $2.3 million are expected to help pay for its construction, along with county reserves and borrowing. Borrowing costs are expected to be partially offset by annual lease fees of $100,000, the report said.

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“We hope to have it fully operational by the end of 2026,” said Kim Godin, the county’s manager of children’s services.

Plans are to add a new single-floor building on the north side of the long-term care site, along with new parking spaces and an extension of the fire route, the report said.

Godwin said that, with approval from council, the county will call for proposals for a non-profit operator for the new facility.

“There is a great need in our rural communities,” she said.

A local group, Lambton Child-Care Advocates, spoke to county council a year ago about the need for additional child-care spaces.

The plan for the new facility is “absolutely great” but “we’re concerned because it doesn’t address that fundamental issue of attracting and retaining those experienced and qualified” workers needed in the child-care sector, said group member Shalen Hunter.

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There are existing child-care spaces going unused locally because of a lack of staff, she said.

The county has tried to recruit more child-care workers for local operators and a career fair is planned for Nov. 19, 10 am to 2 pm, at the Polish Hall on Exmouth Street in Sarnia.

“We think you have to offer them a competitive, living environment,” Hunter said. “It’s an intense job, it’s a hard job and we’re finding that the compensation for it is not reflective of the work that they’re putting in.”

She said the group is also concerned the county may not be able to attract an operator for the new center because of challenges the sector faces.

“Who’s going to pick up the ball? They’ve started it rolling, they’re going to create these spaces and that’s great, but who’s going to actually operate it and will they be able to operate at capacity?”

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