“Expanding EarlyON services aligns with Regional Council’s priority of building a prosperous region by investing early in children and supporting families where they live.”
News from Niagara’s Regional Government
Posted January 29th, 2026 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Regional Government headquarters in Niagara, Ontario
Niagara Region, in partnership with Port Cares and the Town of Lincoln, celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Lincoln EarlyON Child and Family Centre with a ribbon cutting and community celebration at the Lincoln Community Hub in Beamsville.
The expansion of the Lincoln EarlyON Child and Family Centre was made possible through provincial and federal funding aimed at improving access to early learning opportunities for children and families.
The opening took place on Family Literacy Day, a nationally recognized day on Jan. 27, led by ABC Life Literacy Canada that highlights the importance of reading, learning and play in the early years.
The event also marked the official launch of Family Literacy Week across Niagara, with EarlyON Child and Family Centres hosting literacy-focused activities for children, families and caregivers throughout the region.
Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale, Mayor of Lincoln Sandra Easton, Port Cares staff and Regional and Municipal councillors were joined by families, community members and partners to celebrate the new centre and its role in supporting children and families in Lincoln.
Beamsville EarlyON Opening
Left to right: Town of Lincoln Councillors Tony Brunet, Greg Reimer, Lynn Timmins, Port Cares EarlyON Coordinator Tracy Sparkes, Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale, Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton, Niagara Regional Councillor Rob Foster, Town of Lincoln Councillor Anna Murre, Niagara Region Director Children’s Services Satinder Klair, Town of Lincoln CAO Michael Kirkopoulos
“As the System Service Manager for EarlyON Child and Family Centres, Niagara Region plays a critical role in ensuring families across our communities have access to high-quality, inclusive early years programming,” said Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale.
“Expanding EarlyON services aligns with Regional Council’s priority of building a prosperous region by investing early in children and supporting families where they live.” Located within the Lincoln Community Hub (formerly the Beamsville District Secondary School site), the new EarlyON Centre improves access to programs and strengthens connections between families and complementary community services.
“The Lincoln Community Hub is designed to bring people together, make essential services more accessible and create a welcoming space where our community can connect,” said Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton.
“Welcoming the EarlyON Child and Family Centre into the Hub strengthens its role as a gathering place for families, expands access to important child and family services and highlights the thoughtful, adaptive reuse of this building in support of children, parents and caregivers across Lincoln.”
Port Cares is the service provider delivering EarlyON programming in Lincoln and has played a key role in transforming the space into a welcoming environment for families.
“We are proud to partner with Niagara Region to deliver EarlyON programming that supports children and families during these critical early years.” said Chandra Hardeen, Executive Director of Port Cares, in a shared statement.
“This new centre at the Lincoln Community Hub allows us to better connect families to programs and supports in a warm and inclusive setting.”
Family Literacy Week activities will continue across Niagara’s EarlyON Child and Family Centres, offering opportunities for families to read together, enjoy story time, and take home free books and literacy resources.
About Family Literacy Day Family Literacy Day is celebrated annually on January 27 and is led nationally by ABC Life Literacy Canada. The day encourages families to read, learn and play together and highlights the importance of literacy development in the early years. Images View and download press-ready images [https://www.flickr.com/photos/138585849@N02/55065663375/in/album-72177720311388086]
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