The Minister for the Family, Suzanne Roy, was at the Pavillon Wilson in Coteau-du-Lac on Monday October 16 at 10 a.m. to launch the very first pilot project for an educational day-care service in the workplace. The initiative, which takes place on this municipal territory, is the first of its kind in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC. 

The idea was born in the mind of its instigator, Émilie Courval, about a year ago. The young entrepreneur, who runs three businesses, had a 10-month-old son and was struggling to find a place for him in a day-care center in order to get back into the job market. 

"At the time, I'd been waiting for a place since the start of my pregnancy, and my absence was having a big impact on my businesses. I had to go back to work and I still didn't have a place in a day-care center. As a businesswoman, I'm used to finding solutions to problems. So I called the Ministère de la Famille directly, who referred me to the CPE Soulanges and its coordinating office. That's how the project came about" sums up the owner of Groupe Allterna Medic Inc. in Coteau-du-Lac, the company hosting this first workplace-based CPE.

In fact, the early childhood center is located on the 2nd floor of the company's premises, at 3 rue Principale, and accommodates a total of nine children. What do they have in common? Their parents all work for Groupe Alterna Medic.  The day-care center opened on September 5. 

"This pilot project is the first of its kind in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC, and there are 200 across the province.  Each welcomes six, nine or twelve children. Depending on the agreements reached between the coordinating office and the host company, some children from the host community may be accommodated at the childcare center that is the subject of the pilot project. In our case, the CPE is reserved exclusively for the company's employees" explains Geneviève Ouellette, Assistant Director of the Conseil québécois des services éducatifs à la petite enfance, which supports licensees of early childhood educational services in realizing their vision and project. 

A stimulating environment 

Within the early childhood center, a government-accredited educator who is self-employed and an assistant look after the children entrusted to their care. 

"Projects like this demonstrate the dynamism of our region and the people who live here. The project offers the children who benefit from it a safe, pleasant, stimulating and learning environment. I sincerely hope that this pilot project will inspire other companies to do the same on their premises" adds Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard. 

What's the response from Groupe Alterna Medic employees? "The project has been well received and is attracting a lot of attention from customers, that's for sure. We're being asked questions, but we haven't had any negative comments to date" confides Émilie Courval.  

As with a family day-care center, the pilot project benefited from the support of the Soulanges day-care center's coordinating office. "We have the tools to support people like Émilie who want to start their own family or workplace daycare center. Don't hesitate to contact us" concludes Sylvie Himbeault, interim general manager of CPE Soulanges.