2024 Recipients – McKercher LLP Community Fund

MacKenzie Infant Care Center

It's a special place! The Mackenzie Infant Care Centre is open on school days so that young student parents can attend high school classes at the Shirley Schneider Support Centre (SSSC) located right across the street inside of Balfour Collegiate, in Regina. The SSSC offers regular, modified and alternative academic programming.  They work in conjunction with other programs within Balfour to accommodate student needs on an individual basis. In total, MICC has 36 Infant spaces & 15 Toddler spaces. After 18 months of age, the child switches to a toddler care site inside of Balfour Collegiate. The daycare is named after Alex B. Mackenzie, a former principal who — while he was principal and even after he left the administrative ranks — was a strong advocate of the importance of education and support for young mothers. 

Grant funds will be used to support the young teen parent program by helping remove program barriers such as food insecurity for their families.

BGC Saskatoon

The mission of BGC Saskatoon is to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. Their Pleasant Hill Neighbourhood Club Food Bag Program will ensure regular, secure access to nutrition for the children and youth (and their families) who attend our program. It is proven that consistent access to nutrition improves the health, educational and behavioral outcomes for children and youth in our community who are living with food insecurity challenges. The Pleasant Hill community is located in one the largest food deserts in Saskatoon, with limited options available for healthy, nutritious food for families without transportation. This food bag program not only removes the transportation barrier to accessing healthy food for our club children and their families but also supports them financially and emotionally in their general quality of life.

Grant funds will be used to support the Food Bag Program, providing access to nutrition for the children, youth and their families.

Early Childhood Intervention Program

The Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP) Regina Region provides support for families who have children 0-6 years of age, whose development is delayed or at risk for delays. During the pandemic, ECIP trialed a Sensory Bin Workshop, where resources were provided to families over a 6-week period to offer strategies on how to incorporate different areas of development, including fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, social emotional, imaginary play, and speech and language development. Outside of Regina, their program serves a radius of 2 hours outside of the city, including 18 First Nation communities.

Grant funds will be used to support the Sensory Bin Workshop and virtual visits to families in their rural and First Nation communities.

‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.’ ~ Helen Keller

Learn more about the McKercher LLP Community Fund by clicking here!