Hay River's newest – and only – daycare officially opened on Oct. 2.
It is the Setsi'e Frederick Daycare, which has been launched by the Hay River Metis Government Council in the former Hay River Playschool.
Council president Trevor Beck explained his organization was chosen to assume the assets of the Hay River Playschool when it ceased operation earlier this year.
"It was a huge thing that they selected us as the other non-profit group to take over the assets," he said.
Beck said the goal of the Metis Council is to provide daycare service to the community at reasonable prices.
The daycare opened at the beginning of the school year and, as of last week, there were 13 children registered, which is just off 60 per cent of capacity.
"Of course, we want to be at 100 per cent, but we're pretty happy with us being only in our first month," said Beck, noting capacity would be up to 22 children.
The Metis Council made some improvements to the building and to the playground over the summer.
The daycare, which is managed by Nicole Klause, has three full-time positions.
It has been named after the late Frederick Beaulieu, who was a well-known elder in Hay River and a member of the Metis Council's board.
The word Setsi'e in the daycare's name means 'grandpa' in Chipewyan.
Beck noted that Beaulieu was a special man who was always willing to help promote Metis culture.
"The spirit of Frederick is in here and these kids all knew him," said Beck.
The daycare will also teach children about Metis traditions and culture.
Mayor Brad Mapes was on hand at the official opening to welcome Setsi'e Frederick Daycare, and praised the initiative of the Hay River Metis Government Council.
"This is a good example of how they get tied into the community by getting a building set up and moving a business forward," he said. "Definitely we don't have enough daycares in our community and it's great to see them opened up."
Mapes noted that Setsi'e Frederick Daycare will be the only daycare in Hay River, although there are half a dozen day homes.
The mayor said it is great that the daycare has been named in honour of Frederick Beaulieu.
"He was one of the great elders of our community and it will be a great building to remember him by," Mapes said.
The Hay River Playschool shut down on July 1 after a quarter-century of providing preschool education.
Its fate was sealed two years ago when the Department of Education, Culture and Employment introduced Junior Kindergarten to the NWT.