Aboriginal Head Start

Aboriginal Head Start

The Conayt Friendship Society operates the daycare facility at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) Merritt Campus, in partnership with the Nicola Valley and District Métis Society and NVIT. We offer a full-time Aboriginal Head Start program to support the daycare needs of NVIT staff and students, as well as the Métis and urban Aboriginal families in the Nicola Valley.

The Aboriginal Head Start Program is designed for infants and children up to age 6. It is a holistic model encompassing the whole family, and has six components to create a quality early learning environment to help children and their families thrive while respecting and honouring Aboriginal diversity, teachings, and protocols. The six components of the program are language and culture, health, education, nutrition, social support, and parental involvement.

The daycare offers a total of 28 spots (12 for infants/toddlers and 16 for children aged 3-6). Spaces are available for NVIT staff and students as well as Métis and urban Aboriginal families in the Nicola Valley The program is available full time from Monday - Friday, includes meals, and is free of charge.