Canadore College, Lindsay Weld Centre open new childcare and community hub

Canadore College and the Lindsay Weld Centre for Children have officially opened a new childcare and community hub in a repurposed North Bay school. (Supplied/Canadore College)

Canadore College and the Lindsay Weld Centre for Children have officially opened a new childcare and community hub in a repurposed North Bay school, marking a major step in addressing local childcare shortages and fostering intergenerational connections.

The facility, located in the former E.T. Carmichael Public School on Chapais Street, will offer licensed childcare for infants to 12-year-olds, alongside educational programs and community initiatives. The project is part of Canadore’s Village Collective Impact Project, a community development effort launched in 2019 to promote social inclusion and lifelong learning.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Lindsay Weld Centre for Children to expand childcare spaces in North Bay,” said Canadore College President George Burton, in news release this week.

“However, this centre represents more than just additional childcare options. It will provide Canadore students from various programs the chance to bridge classroom learning with hands-on experience in a real-world childcare environment.”

Burton emphasized the hub’s unique intergenerational approach, which will bring together children, college students, and seniors to strengthen community ties. With over 1,500 children on Nipissing District’s childcare waitlist, the new centre aims to alleviate pressure on families while creating a model for inclusive, collaborative spaces.

The Lindsay Weld Centre, a well-known in the childcare sector in the region, said it sees the partnership as a way to expand its impact.

“Our Centre’s mission is to provide the highest quality in childcare, recognizing the individual needs of the whole child,” said Maggie Horsfield, board chair of the Lindsay Weld Centre and a North Bay city councillor.

“This partnership with Canadore College is a significant step forward in fulfilling our mission.”

Horsfield added that the facility honours the legacy of Dr. Lindsay Weld while creating a nurturing environment for children, families and educators.

Canadore College acquired the E.T. Carmichael property in March 2024, transforming the vacant school into a dynamic hub designed to support community well-being with officials saying the hub will serve as a blueprint for future community-focused initiatives, blending education, childcare and intergenerational engagement under one roof.