Northlands College will make a decision on how to proceed with the project on April 25. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Northlands College

Final decision coming for new 90-seat daycare centre

Mar 25, 2026 | 2:52 PM

Northlands College will soon make a decision regarding the development of a $1.8 million, 90-seat day care facility in La Ronge.  

Northlands President and CEO Michael McCormick attended a regular town council meeting earlier this week to deliver an update on the project. It was first announced in September 2025 that the college had received support from the Ministry of Education to undertake such a large initiative. 

“From the period of receiving the money until today, there has been a lot of due diligence and activity happening,” McCormick explained. 

“About five or six months ago, we did do an expression of interest. At Northlands College, we’re an educator, we’re not in the daycare business, so we did do an expression of interest for an operator, so the [La Ronge Child Care Cooperative] was our successful awardee. When the daycare opens, they will be our operator.” 

Northlands College has also been working with an engineering firm to assist with concept designs. It has been determined there will either be a renovation at the Canoe Campus in La Ronge to accommodate the daycare, the construction of a new building on the Canoe Campus lot, or the construction of a new daycare which also includes space for an early childhood education centre.  

Northlands College

Final decision coming for new 90-seat daycare centre

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Northlands is currently completing a feasibility study and a decision on how to move forward is expected to be made on April 25. The facility must be open by 2028.  

“Our typical academic year comes to a close at the end of May or early June, which allows us, if we are going to renovate, to reorganize our spaces without causing negative affects to our academic curriculums, and if we are going to do construction, we’re right in season,” McCormick noted. 

There is a high need for more daycare spaces in the tri-communities as it is not unusual for residents to wait years for a spot at the current La Ronge Child Care Cooperative. McCormick added he is hopeful the new facility will address some of that need, but he stated students will be given first priority, followed by Northlands employees and then community members.  

“One of the biggest barriers of why students don’t come to class or drop out or sometimes don’t even apply is because of child care,” he said.  

La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski told McCormick the town is willing to work with Northlands to make the project a reality.  

“We know the cost of developing land in the muskeg and that’s what you got [at the Canoe Campus). We do have some land available and we’re open to negotiation,” Hordyski remarked.  

“Whatever is going to give you an advantage and move that project forward, we certainly want to do what we can to move it along.”   

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com