UPDATE: Planned McMan celebration cancelled

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 12, 2020.

UPDATE: McMan Parent Link on Thursday announced the group has been advised to cancel the celebration due to fears surrounding COVID-19.

——————

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

McMan Parent Link is holding a “farewell fling” tonight for past and present clients, staff and supporters in Medicine Hat as it in set to close at the end of the month following 15 years in the community.

The centre, located at the the Southview Community School, holds drop-in playtime for toddlers among an array of programs as a chance to create community and also do assessment and provide early intervention for parents and children.

This year’s dance comes after the province’s decision last fall to re-tender all early childhood service contracts across the province as part of a move to localized “family resource networks.”

The results of that process, which will determine service provision in Southeast Alberta, are still unknown, but McMan’s current contract ends on March 31.

Angela Dunn, who has work with Parent Link since “Day 1” in 2005 said they hope the event will be a celebration of the work done over the years and a reunion of sorts.

“For the last several years, we’ve held a dance during Family Week (in February), but held off to have a bigger celebration for the 15th anniversary,” she told the News on Wednesday.

“We’re hoping to see many of the families that have taken part over the years, and hopefully we’ll get to see some of the kids who have moved on to the school system,”

The event is open to all, and organizers are hoping to see former and current clients who took part in drop-in, playgroup, classes, Saturday morning “Superdads” programming.

Dunn said current and former staff members have also RSVPed for the event, to be held tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the centre located in Southview School. The family-friendly event will feature a DJ, photo booth, some activities and refreshments as supplies last. No registration is required.

The centre’s official mission is to provide workshops and classes on parenting, provides needs assessments and links to more specialized services in the community.

More generally, it sets up positive interaction activities and play as a way to build habits for new parents experiencing difficulties or dealing with special needs.

A side effect is it provided community and a destination for mothers, fathers and caregivers who may be isolated.

The Alberta government has been adamant that early childhood and intervention services will continue, with new service providers announced in the next few weeks.

“I know many people are wondering what the service will look like going forward,” said Tracie Mutschle, executive director of McMan in the South zone of Alberta.

“They will make an announcement once agreements are reached with (successful) agencies.”

Last November, the province announced it would cancel 450 grants, totalling $77 million, with 300 Parent Link groups across the province as it moves to institute a new system in April 2020.

Proposals to operate those new local services in different municipalities, for a total cost of $65 million, were due in mid-February. Negotiations with successful applicants are set to conclude on March 20.

21
-20