Winkler is receiving 114 new daycare spots this fall.

"It will take a lot of pressure off our waiting list," Karen Vandijk explains, adding they have an average waiting list of 150 children.

"Just parents waiting for a phone call," she says, adding parents can wait for up to two years because of the local demand.

Vandijk is the Executive Director of the Northland Childcare Centre and will be overseeing the Pine Ridge Childcare Centre coming up alongside the new Pine Ridge Elementary School in Winkler's west end. She notes, in addition to accepting infant, preschool and kindergarten children, Pine Ride Childcare Centre will offer the city's only licensed school-age program. The Mighty Oaks Club will offer 30 spots to children in grades one and two.

She notes they still have spaces open for the school-aged program. Register online here, or email director@northland-cc.com.

Overall, she says the additional spaces will make a big difference, adding to the 74 licensed spaces at Northland Childcare Centre attached to the high school, Northlands Parkway Collegiate, in the city's north end.

Vandijk explains they use a play-based curriculum. "The children don't necessarily understand there's a lot of designed-learning happening, they're just seeing the room is set up for fun and the staff are taking the opportunities as they see them to teach and mentor the children."

She notes they're currently in the hiring process ahead of the childcare centre opening. "We're actually going to be a large employer in the community," she says, adding they'll employ approximately 60 staff between the two sites.

The new Pine Ridge Childcare Centre is expected to open October 7.