Baker Lake daycare secures $6.35M for new facility
Separate classrooms to accommodate 56 children
Baker Lake Daycare staff members, from left, Holly Kayuryuk, Verna Kalluk, Robyn Iqqaat, and Elizabeth Itkilik, with daycare children in their temporary space at the Baha’i House. Following the fire that destroyed their original building in 2021, construction of a $6.35-million daycare facility is scheduled to begin this August. (Photo courtesy of Ami Tootoo)
The Baker Lake Daycare has secured $6.35 million to build a new facility with construction expected to begin this summer.
The new building, expected to open by 2026, will nearly double the daycare’s current capacity and will accommodate 56 children across three separate classrooms for preschoolers, toddlers and infants, Kivalliq Inuit Association announced March 11 in a news release.
The design for the new Baker Lake Daycare facility features cultural elements inspired by Inuit heritage, with the green and yellow fencing design drawn from a print by renowned local artist Jessie Oonark. (Design sketch courtesy of Ami Tootoo)
“We tried to choose a central location, close to the downtown core area, so it’s not out of the way for parents,” said Ami Tootoo, chairperson of the Baker Lake Daycare board of directors, in an interview.
The new facility, which is still in the final design phase, will also include a director’s office and boardroom plus an outdoor play area and more room for parking.
Tootoo emphasized the incorporation of Inuit culture and local art into the daycare’s design.
“The architects are drawing heavily from our Inuit heritage,” she said.
“One of the standout features will be an igloo-shaped structure in the cubby area.”
As well, the green and yellow fencing design was drawn from a print by renowned Baker Lake artist Jessie Oonark.
“I felt a lot of pride when they told me they’re finding artwork done by Baker Lakers,” Tootoo said.
“The goal is to eventually have a lot of cultural programming in the new daycare that’s age-appropriate as well.”
The project follows a fire in August 2021 that destroyed the daycare’s previous building. It is being funded through a $2.48-million contribution agreement from the KIA and $3.46 million from the Government of Nunavut’s Early Learning and Child Care program.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. and Peter’s Expediting Ltd. are also providing financial support.
Since the fire, the daycare has been operating out of the Baha’i House.
The Baha’i House, then a relatively unused space with a large open area, kitchenette and additional living spaces, has allowed the daycare to continue offering services to the community.
ABF Arctic, a Baker Lake-based company experienced in mechanical and industrial projects in Nunavut, will manage the daycare’s construction.
“We’re thinking of starting construction in August but it depends on the sealift,” Tootoo said, as the modules needed to build the facility are to be delivered in the summer.
The daycare’s board and parents are rallying around the project, she said, with plans to start a volunteer fundraising committee to support the new daycare.
“There’s a drive now in the parents to try to help out,” Tootoo said
She added that while the support of major funders is essential, the success of contracting a new daycare was driven by efforts by local residents.
“My vision for this major project is for the world to understand that this can be done on a community level, and it can be done for the kids, for the families, for the community,” she said.
“The architects are drawing heavily from our Inuit heritage,” she said”
I think in NU where we have limited money, communities all have failing infrastructure, dilapidated buildings, and are all in need of significant upgrades we should be working smarter, not feeding endless money into architecture and design firms.
We have 26 communities, yes they range in size so buildings likey daycares need to range in size, but wouldn’t it be smart to just have a 2 or 3 total designs which could then by copied across the territory rather than spending huge amounts of money on new designs every time?
This goes for all municipal, government and RIA builds. We don’t need to go Solviate Russia era of utility only but I think there’s a wise way of doing things, and we’re not doing it, to the benefit of consultants. We would be better off with more functional buildings, rather than less buildings with prettier designs.
Daycares are a perfect example, pretty universal needs in a daycare facility, it just may need to extend off one direction or another for additional square feet depending on how many kids it serves.
Feel like we should start working together a bit more on this and think smarter about use of money so we can get more for the dollars allocated to us.
I agree, there is no need of these crazy designs and paying for all the bling bling, just building what is needed and that right there will save money.
Also Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. and Peter’s Expediting Ltd. are also providing financial support. How much are they helping? The mine is making lots and lots of money, they should have no problem chipping in a few million to help out.
Thank you Agnico Eagle and “Super Shamou”. ♥️
Helping children.♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
(Ahem)
Seems like Agnico is already helping.
Remember before Agnico?
Everyone relied on welfare and nepotism was (is) the rule.