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Preschool program finds new home, returns to Fortune

After four months of hunting, a Fortune preschool program group has found a new home to replace the old and unsafe building it was previously operating out of.

Valerie Peach, with the Fortune Brighter Futures preschool program, said she and her team will be moving into and transforming an old Newfoundland and Labrador Housing unit.

She said the move will be a welcome change, after being displaced for so long.

The program was popular in Fortune, until it was forced to relocate to Grand Bank.

"I cannot even put it into words. It's been so many months of just waiting and waiting and waiting, and when we actually got the word, I just wanted to get the program started right away," said Peach.

Brighter Futures runs a number of program, from cooking lessons to play groups and baby care information.

A welcome new routine

Stephanie Hillier, a mother of three young kids, said travelling the five kilometres to Grand Bank was difficult — especially in rough weather.

"[It was] a big difference time wise, convenience wise," she said.

"My husband is in Alberta working so I'm pretty much a single mom while he's gone, so just five minutes is a big deal in my life. It will be a big difference that it's just down the road."

There's still some painting and cleaning left to do, but Peach said she's excited to return to Fortune.

"I'm hoping that this will be a welcome and that parents will soon establish this as a routine in their lives again so that the children can certainly avail of all these wonderful programs," said Peach.

Peach added she hopes to have the centre reopened in a couple of weeks.