By Kathy Moncalieri
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our team and the patience of our families, we are thrilled to announce that the Kids at GF Strong Child Development Centre is fully reopened after a devastating flood in 2021.
In December of that year, our CDC and parts of GF Strong Rehabilitation Hospital experienced severe flooding caused by frozen pipes, leading to the largest facility disruption we’ve ever faced. When the flood happened, we quickly adapted by relocating one age group to our Berwick location and adding a new toddler class at Fraserview. As time passed, all the children transitioned from Berwick to Fraserview, and the toddler room was restructured to serve children ages 3-5.
With the support of Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, we embarked on a long process of restoration, renovation, and construction to bring the centre back to life. It has been renovated from floor to ceiling and we invested in playground improvements to ensure the outdoor space complements the centre’s new look and feel.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families who stayed with us through this challenging period, as well as to our dedicated KGF team for preparing the classrooms to welcome everyone back. Thank you for your patience, support, and resilience—it truly made all the difference in this journey back to full service.