With seven children between them, Christina Vitalis and Kara Balcarras are two Cochrane ‘mompreneurs’ looking for support from the community to launch their dream into reality to fill a growing local demand for a play centre.
The goal is to partner with local businesses and gain enough momentum with grassroots support to turn their business plan into a feasible action plan.
“We have both been thinking about doing this for years, but we started our business plan about a year ago,” explained Balcarras, a Southland school bus driver who also runs a playgroup at the Alliance Church Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
“It’s really important for us to work with local businesses — including the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane, Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and the Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) Centre,” added Vitalis, a 16-year lifeguard for the City of Calgary at the Killarney Aquatic & Recreation Centre.
The women have launched a Facebook group for their ‘Buckaroos’ project at facebook.com/Buckaroos-Indoor Play, as well as a ‘Go Fund Me’ (crowd fundraising platform) at gofundme.com/buckaroos.
Their goal is a lofty $500,000 — which would likely only get the ball rolling; it’s too early to establish a cost estimate, as variables such as project scale, whether to build or find leasable space and the potential for grant dollars has not yet been calculated.
It is likely the high commercial rental costs in Cochrane, which range anywhere from $15 to over to $45/square foot, would be an obstacle to overcome.
The women have met the town and a number of local businesses and non-profits; they have also started getting the word out to other parents through social media.
So far, the response is overwhelmingly positive and the women are hoping the momentum will catch on and the community will continue to support the growing demand for the first private sector play centre — one that would cater to children ranging from infancy to young teens.
The preliminary ideas include a 15-20 foot high climbing structure; a play area for babies and toddlers; an area for older children (aged 10-13 years); a possible sensory room for children with additional developmental needs; and a café with reasonably priced food and refreshments.
Security would also be a priority — including video surveillance cameras and a secure check-in area upon entry and exit.
As the women have three and four kids of their own respectively, they emphasized that affordability (pricing) and consideration for larger families must be taken into account; they said that it would be key to work with FCSS on this to ensure some type of punch passes or considerations could be given to lower income families.
As of late, the Eagle has observed growing concern expressed on social media platforms that Cochrane, which saw a 10 per cent growth in population between 2013-2014, is lacking in community spaces for free play for kids ranging from infancy through pre-teen years.
While the feedback for the provincially funded Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre (PLC) is largely positive, most recognize that the playroom and family programming at the PLC are geared toward children under the age of six and there is a maximum capacity.
With resources already stretched thin, according to PLC coordinator Kim Krawec, the likelihood of a facility expansion is unlikely at this point.
Conversations with the Town of Cochrane and Robin Mitchell, general manager of the SLS Centre, indicate that while there is a possibility to provide some level of support for such a venture — it is likely up to the private sector to begin the initiative for a play centre.
