Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma said it’s one of his biggest topics of conversation, impacting young and old.
Getting more childcare and senior living spaces is something local civic leaders are working towards, with long waiting lists for both.
At a public meeting on Monday night at council chambers, an application for a bylaw amendment was presented to allow a childcare centre in the Oak Street area.
“Certainly the public is supporting it. But if council supports this, this will add 98 new childcare spaces. And you can think about the impact that will have on young families.”
More than 600 children are on the wait list locally for available childcare.
The senior living space waitlist is even longer.
To that end, the mayor will be part of a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday at the new peopleCare long-term care facility on Vivian Line, a former city-owned property.
It replaces the former Mornington Street seniors long-term care facility and will offer 288 beds.
Work is currently underway.
“I look forward to seeing the results tomorrow, the early work on that building and by 2027 welcoming our first residents into the new peopleCare facility.”
