This Thunder Bay, Ont., organization is taking over a city block to meet food, child-care needs

Jackie Knough says it’s a vicious cycle: the cost of living keeps going up, but many parents can’t return to work because there aren’t enough child-care spaces in town.

As executive director of Our Kids Count, a grassroots organization in Thunder Bay, Ont., she sees the effects of the affordability crisis first hand. 

“In one morning at a community breakfast, we could see 200 people,” Knough said. “We are seeing more and more families accessing our food cupboard and our emergency services that we haven’t seen in the past, and so this is alarming.”

Our Kids Count provides programming to children and families in financial need on the city’s south side. This summer, it opened 26 licensed child-care spaces at 704 McKenzie St., which displaced the organization’s community kitchen program.

Around that time, the former Circle K at 735 Simpson St. became vacant. Then, the house between both properties came up for sale — offering a backyard with plenty of green space — and things quickly snowballed from there, Knough explained.

“One project led into another project to another project, and here we are, sort of side by side by side down the block,” she said. “The timing of it all seems to align for us to be able to expand these programs.”

On Saturday, Our Kids Count launched its Building Block capital campaign with an ambitious target: $2.7 million to transform McKenzie and Simpson streets into a block of essential services.

“A lot of our families already have challenges with transportation and getting to access different services within the city, and so being able to have these services side by side is absolutely ideal for our families and for our staff members as well,” Knough said.

“We are really excited to be able to provide food security, child-care programming, walk-in counselling, our Big Brothers Big Sisters program — all within this block.”

The campaign will support:

• The redevelopment of 735 Simpson St. into a fully equipped community hub.
• The renovation of 704 McKenzie St. to upgrade the child care centre. 
• The transformation of 708 McKenzie St. into a training and program delivery space.
• A new outdoor play area to support the child care centre.

Our Kids Count received $92,700 from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) this summer, as well as $283,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Corporation, to support the work. Still, the organization must raise just over $1 million to meet its target.

“By supporting the creation of this new family-centered hub, we are helping ensure that local families, children, and youth have access to the essential programs and supports they need to thrive,” Thunder Bay—Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland said in a news release.

‘On a positive trajectory’

Brian Hamilton, councillor for the McKellar ward and chair of the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board, says the expansion of Our Kids Count will make a huge difference in the area.

“This is a neighbourhood really on a positive trajectory. It’s no stranger to challenges around poverty and food insecurity and aging infrastructure, but these are not insurmountable,” Hamilton said.

Down the street, for example, Evergreen A United Neighbourhood provides a drop-in space for youth, while NorWest Community Health Centres nearby offers a range of health-care programs. In Hamilton’s view, as organizations like these continue to build partnerships, systemic issues will be tackled more effectively.

“What’s really interesting in Thunder Bay is that the silos, when it comes to service delivery, are breaking down,” Hamilton said.

“It’s great to see that the needs of this community are not only being addressed but the voices of the youth, particularly in this community, are being amplified through those programs and services,” he added.

Besides monetary donations, Knough said the organization is seeking volunteers, including those who may be able to assist with the renovations. 

The hope is to begin work on the community hub in the coming weeks and tentatively open it by April 2026. Construction at the training facility will commence after that.

“We’re hoping to have everything completed by this time next year,” Knough said. “This is the time where we’re going to be reaching out and connecting with the community.”