The Toy Bus

The Toy Bus is a Mobile Family Resource Centre funded by the ‘Community Action Program for Children’ (CAPC) under the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It provides a weekly opportunity in rural locations for parents and children to get together with others living in similar situations. The aim is to provide social support for parents/caregivers and an opportunity for small children to interact with their peers. The Toy Bus currently offers playgroups and other programs in 7 rural communities. Services include: developmentally appropriate play and learning activities, a lending library, workshops on various topics, information and referral, breastfeeding support, and a baby activity centre. The program offers a wide variety of parenting and early learning programs to promote healthy child development. These range from “Kindergym” and “Stir if Up with Kids in the Kitchen”, fun fitness and nutrition programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity and encouraging heart health from childhood, to positive attachment parenting such as “Make the Connection” to early learning such as “School’s Cool”. The mobile nature of our program makes us a great “co-location” for others, and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit brings its Child Health Clinics out on location with us on a regular basis.

Weekly Programs

Play and Learn Drop-in 10:00 to 11:30
Tuesdays
Killaloe
Palmer Rapids

Wednesdays
Eganville
Cobden (10am - 12pm)

Thursdays
Barry's Bay
Whitney (1pm - 2:30pm)

Prenatal Nutrition Program

The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) helps meet the needs of pregnant women and teens, pregnant women living in isolation or situations that could put their pregnancy at risk, or who have limited access to information and services. Weekly sessions offer nutrition information for mothers, books and videos on a variety of subjects, breastfeeding support, the opportunity to meet and talk with other pregnant women, guest speakers, and referrals to other services

To help encourage a healthy pregnancy, prenatal vitamins and food vouchers are provided free of charge for the duration of the pregnancy. Services are provided throughout Renfrew County. Call for a group time and location near you.

Youth Employment Program

The CRC has a long history of supporting youth to gain useful employment experience. We have participated in a variety of youth employment projects including: Summer Experience; Career Experience; Job Connect; Industry Canada Youth Employment via the Ontario Library Association (OLA); HRSDC Job Creation; co-op and other student placements/internships; and most recently Youth Intern funding via the Community Futures Development Corporation of Renfrew County.

Kidz Kastle

In June 2006, the CRC obtained a license to operate Kidz Kastle Children’s Centre. This is located at Killaloe Public School and offers licensed children’s programs including flexible child care and Best Start Early Learning programs. Kidz Kastle successfully offered summer recreation programs to older children, during the summer of 2007 and in the fall of that year implemented before and after school care. Kidz Kastle works with the Pre-school Speech and Language therapists and others, providing space and opportunities for one to one work with children who need speech and language services.

Killaloe Youth Action

The CRC was asked to assume financial and legal sponsorship for the Killaloe Youth Action Committee. This initiative has received financial support from HRDC (now Service Canada) via a Job Creation Project to employ a Youth Program Coordinator. Funding has been received from Job Connect and the Ontario Library Association (Youth Employment) for a Youth Program Leader. Funding was also received from the Communities in Action Fund to help establish a Skatepark in Eganville in Year 1 and one in Killaloe in Year 2. The Eganville Skatepark opened in July of 2006. A 2 year Trillium Grant was approved and started in 06-07. The Killaloe Skatepark opened in October of 2007. Their after school program “Weekdayz” offers a range of activities from arts, music and movement to movie or game nights. There have been many outdoor activities including water safety and kayaking, to basketball camps and of course events at the skateparks. Funds for transportation have allowed for the organization of school buses to pick youth up in a variety of communities in order to bring them together at one of the skateparks. The CRC and Killaloe Youth Action group are working with the Killaloe Hagarty Richards municipality (KHR) and the Friends of the Rink to improve the rink facility in order to ensure a 4 season recreational/community centre for youth, families and individuals