Tanis Crosby (left) with her son, and MLA Michele Raymond at the announcement of a new $1.4 million dollar licensed day care centre at the vacant lot beside Tim Horton’s on Herring Cove road, close to Central Spryfield Elementary. I’d estimate about 50 people turned out for the community ‘kitchen party’ at the Captain William Spry Centre. The 57 spots should be useful to many parents in the neighbourhood, as they range from infant to age five.

Tanis spoke about the strength of the Spryfield community, and it’s true that many community members turned up: I had a lovely chat with Andrea from the parenting task force and Kristen from St. Paul’s Family Institute, as well as Mike Marantette from the Capital Health board. I saw people breaking apart into groups and socializing, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a big solid hug from Julia Feltham, the cello playing half of a Celtic violin-cello duo. Julia, I read recently that a hug should last for six seconds to be fully effective, and boy, do you ever know how to do it right.

The YWCA brought a dinner of chowder, beans, lemonade, and other goodies. As I chatted with Tanis I kept the poor lady from eating her chowder and beans….and I must admit it was rather hard to chat with the smell of that chowder wafting through the room!

So congratulations, YWCA and the parents of Spryfield. You aim to be in by summer 2011, so I’ll be following your build as it progresses.