MD of Spirit River Council Secures Review of $3 Million Grant Application

MD of Spirit River Councillor Shelley Rozecki, Reeve Tony Van Rootselaar and Councillor Evelyn Bzowy in the Legislature Building in Edmonton

In mid-November, the Municipal District (MD) of Spirit River No. 133 Council undertook a successful advocacy trip to Edmonton, meeting with key provincial ministers to champion crucial solutions for the region’s childcare crisis.

Reeve Tony Van Rootselaar and Councillors Shelley Rozecki and Evelyn Bzowy met with Minister of Municipal Affairs Dan Williams and Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides securing a commitment from both to review a previously denied grant application.

Advocating for Funding and Review

The focus of the meetings was the urgent need for licensed childcare spaces in the Spirit River area, which currently suffers from one of the lowest coverage rates in Alberta. Council advocated for the reconsideration of the Building Blocks Grant application, which was submitted in partnership with the Spirit River Regional Daycare Society for $3,000,000 to develop a childcare centre.

Due to Council’s efforts, both Minister Williams and Minister Nicolaides have agreed to review the application. In April 2025, the MD Council approved a motion to donate MD-owned land adjacent to the Town of Spirit River for the facility and committed $300,000 to cover the required 10% contingency funding.

Stark Statistics Highlight Urgent Need

The council members presented the ministers with compelling data illustrating the severity of the local childcare shortage and its impact on the community:

• Coverage Rate: Spirit River has the 3rd lowest childcare coverage rate in the province, currently sitting at a mere 3%.

• Space Deficit: To reach the 33% coverage rate deemed adequate by the Province of Alberta, a total of 152 licensed childcare spaces must be created.

• Economic and Healthcare Impact: The lack of childcare has directly contributed to emergency department closures due to staff being unable to find care for their children.

Tailored Solutions for Rural Needs

In addition to funding, the MD Council emphasized that any effective childcare model must be tailored to the specific needs of a rural community with a large number of shift workers.

They also advocated for rural weighted funding to address the higher operational and capital costs commonly experienced outside of major urban centres.

This advocacy trip marks a major milestone for the MD, as council members successfully put the region’s critical childcare needs on the provincial radar and secured a vital review of grant funding.