Day care needs new home now

Moore Place Day Care is in desperate need of a new home and is hoping the community can help-- both in finding a space and providing financial assistance. The non-profit organization, which has a volunteer community board of directors, is currently housed in two buildings at 83 and 79 Main St. N., Georgetown, but due to building issues the childcare facility was recently asked by the landlord to vacate the location at 79 Main St. N. The Town of Halton Hills municipal law enforcement officer Ron Stein said in early July he inspected the building and found several property standard violations. Stein said he attempted to work with the building owner to "create a reasonable time to correct the repairs," and some were done. Stein said the violations that have not been corrected are open electrical plugs, uneven floors in the basement, no hot water and some shingles in bad repair. The landlord asked asked the childcare facility to leave the building by Sept. 30. As a result, they were looking for a temporary location for the up to 16 children who attend the facility at 79 Main St. N., but executive director of Moore Place Betty Read said fortunately on Tuesday they received Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Children and Youth Services approval to temporarily house those children at their other location. "It's helped somewhat. But this isn't an ideal situation," said Read, stressing that the extra children in the one building will be a tight fit. They have been looking for a location for some time, but now it's even more crucial Moore Place find a new home. "We have done everything possible to find an alternate location where we can better serve the children of Georgetown," said Read.

Moore Place Day Care executive director Betty Read was joined by (from left) Breanna Gough, 5, Meghan Van Doorn, 5, Kaitlyn Barns, 3, Joshua Hughes, 4 and Daniel Bisson, 4, just a few of the kids that will not be able to use day care space at 79 Main St. N. by September 30.

She said they have a possible permanent location that will not be ready for about six to seven months, but it is not firm and there is a chance they could lose that space, so they are interested in all other options. Read said while they have contacted real estate agents and searched the town themselves with no success, there may be an opportunity they don't know about, or one that has not yet come on the market. "We are appealing to the Georgetown community to help us to continue to operate and with our vision to serve the children," said Read. The board is looking for a 5,000 to 6,000 sq. ft. commercially zoned permanent location in Georgetown and financial assistance from the public. "Being a non-profit organization we do not have the $160,000 that it would take to put first and last months rent down, pay for the 3-4 months of rent required while renovations occur and to renovate," said Read. "Our first concern is quality care for the kids," said Judy Deamude, president of the childcare facility's board of directors. "The care and the program that these kids get there is absolutely phenomenal." Deamude said she has contacted the offices of MP Michael Chong, MPP Ted Chudleigh and Mayor Rick Bonnette for help, but has had no success. "Georgetown is already in need of additional quality child care spaces and we are doing everything possible to make sure that we can continue our operations to ensure that we do not lose any spaces," said Read. "We cannot do this alone and trust that the families, agencies and business community will assist us in our journey for a new location for our child care program." Anyone with information about a potential location or interested in helping the childcare with monetary donations is asked to call Deamude at 905877-0512 or Deamude or Read at 905877-9314.