The Carlyle-based youth and family activity group, Cornerstone Family and Youth (CFY) announced not long ago their re-opening of the space which served the group as a play-space for their Parent and Tot program.
With a total facelift of the existing place underway, the organization wants the reopening to have as much of an impact as the programs the group offers.
Therefore on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 20, CFY would like to extend an invitation to the general public to come and take part in the grand opening of the newly rebuilt space, now dubbed 'The Playroom.'
Timed to coincide with National Children's Day, the grand opening (or re-opening if you will) will take place within The Playroom, located off the alley on the south-side of the Carlyle town office building.
Planned to kick-off at noon with a ribbon cutting at The Playroom, at 1 p.m. the festivities will head over to the Carlyle Public Library for a cupcake reception and a presentation by singer/songwriter Lorri Solomon, and will go through until 4 p.m.
Visiting the centre for the ribbon cutting will be MLA Dan D'Autremont, the provincial representative for the Cannington constituency, as well as various members of the Carlyle town council.
The Playroom program was developed in close partnership with the Carlyle Public Library, and will offer a two-hour program, two times a week.
"We are very happy to have had the involvement of the library in this program," said Jen Sedor, the program coordinator for CFY. "Some new grant sources came available that allowed us to offer this new program, while completely reconditioning a space that had been in use for some time now."
The Playroom program will offer a chance for youth between the ages of zero- to five-years of age to come out with a parent or parents and enjoy crafts, games, stories, a snack, and other activities designed to educate and stimulate young minds.
The program is offered at no charge to any parent with child who wants to take part.
Program days will run Tuesday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
"We hope that everyone will take the opportunity to come by with their little ones and join us for some fun activities," Sedor said. "We think that everyone, child and parent, will be surprised and impressed with the quality of programming we have going on."
Also new to CFY this year is a mascot character.
As part of the grand opening, a contest that has been run through CFY over the last couple of months to name the new mascot will come to its finale as the new name for CFY's new friend will be announced.
Pharmasave has donated a $25 gift card, and many other goodies including books, crayons, craft supplies, balloons and a bag that will be used to put the whole thing together will be the prize.
"This is going to be really exciting," Sedor said of the new program and remodelled space. "We have a solid commitment to help out children and families throughout the area, and the new facility will do quite a bit to help us realize those commitments."
"I think its important to point out that this program, and CFY in general, is part of the community," Sedor said. "It is just another part of the wonderful things people around here do to support the community as a whole."
