DUNCAN – The grand opening of Wendy’s House – Children’s Play and Discovery Centre is on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 3:30 pm. The community is welcome to join us in this celebration. Wendy’s House is located at 2300 University Way, on the old ball fields along side the Trans Canada Highway and next to Vancouver Island University (VIU). It is housed in the portable that is next to the blue building. Wendy’s House is open Monday – Thursday from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Fridays are reserved for school groups.
Wendy’s House is an early learning centre that is named in memory of Wendy Erickson, who was an early learning advocate and coordinator for the school district. It was her dream to develop a centre in the Cowichan Valley that was modeled after Munchkin Land in Parksville. Wendy’s House is built on the premise that play carries out an essential role in children’s development in that it creates a foundation for formal learning, as this was something that Wendy strongly believed in. Inside the centre you will find a number of vignettes or play areas for children to exercise both their bodies and their imagination. “I am very pleased and honoured to have helped bring Wendy’s dream to a reality,†said Sheryl Koers, Assistant Superintendent. “The centre is amazing thanks to everyone’s help and, I think, everything Wendy would have hoped for.â€
The Play and Discovery Centre came together through many community partnerships with School District 79. They are: Success by 6, Aboriginal Success by 6, Duncan Rotary, Duncan Daybreak Rotary, North Cowichan Fire Department, Kinsmen and Kinettes, Kiwanis, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Our Cowichan, Staples, Duncan Lions, Parkside Academy Society, Cowichan Wooden Boat Society and the Maple Bay Yacht Club; a number of community members and businesses also volunteered their time and/or provided donations. “It truly is a community collaboration project, completed by the community, for the community,†shares Candace Spilsbury, Project Community Liaison.
The concept of play is at the very core of Wendy’s House. The connections between make-believe play and early language and literacy development are well supported in research. Additionally, children exercise both social and emotional self-control when they have to wait their turn or share toys. In fact, children often show greater self-control during play than at other times. Play nourishes every aspect of a child’s development – it feeds growing brains as well as growing bodies; it nurtures the spirit. Koers and Spilsbury share the sentiment that this has been a particularly satisfying project to be involved in as it supports early learning, which is such a contributor to success in later life.
We are very excited about the opportunity this centre will bring to our children and families in our community and we wish to thank everyone for their contributions to make this happen.
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News Release (amended) – Wendy’s House Grand Opening