42 clear staff and guardian handbooks, centralized enrolment and fee management, strengthened safety practices, and new digital tools, including online applications and tracking systems, have all contributed to a strong and sustainable foundation. By the end of its first school year, BLAST was operating in seven locations serving eight schools. More than 200 students were enrolled, with over 250 students on a division-wide waitlist, underscoring both the program’s success and the continued demand from families. BLAST operates on a cost-recovery model. Approximately 92.6 per cent of the program’s budget supports staffing, reflecting a strong focus on supervision, relationships and student safety, with the remainder supporting supplies, activities and snacks. At the heart of BLAST’s success are its people and its environments. Caring, child-centred staff, safe and welcoming spaces, and flexible programming have helped make BLAST a positive and valued part of students’ days across each location. While the program continues to grow, it is not yet available across the entire division. Expansion will take place over time, with current challenges including balancing demand between communities, limited space in some schools, staffing for split shifts, and ensuring appropriate supports for students with additional or complex needs. Looking ahead, LRSD aims to expand access to before- and after-school supervision to half of its communities by January 2027. This will be achieved through a combination of new BLAST locations and partnerships with childcare providers, along with continued efforts to strengthen staffing, expand access, and reduce financial barriers for families. BLAST’s strong first year reflects a true division-wide effort, with staff across schools, operations, transportation, and central departments working together to support students and families. Some families have described it as life changing. “I’ve spoken with parents almost in tears, telling me we’ve won the lottery,” said BLAST manager Tricia Bailey Sauvé. That early feedback speaks to the meaningful impact of the Louis Riel School Division’s (LRSD) BLAST program, which has just completed its first year as a coordinated initiative supporting students and families before and after the school day. BLAST, which stands for Before-School, Lunch, and After-School Time, was introduced in response to a clear and growing need for safe, accessible supervision outside regular school hours. A Spring 2025 survey of LRSD families, with 2,936 responses, found that more than 1,200 families had unmet supervision needs, highlighting a significant gap across the division. The program aligned directly with LRSD’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2023–2027, specifically Strategic Action 4.3: Expand access to before- and after-school care. BLAST is a supervision program, not licensed childcare. While childcare services are curriculum-based and externally regulated, BLAST focuses on creating safe, structured, and welcoming environments where students can enjoy arts and crafts, games, reading, and indoor and outdoor play, while building friendships and a sense of belonging. The program is designed to complement existing childcare services in LRSD communities, not replace them. Before the creation of BLAST, some schools did their best to respond to demand for before- and after-school programming, often with support from school administration or clerical staff. With BLAST now established as a centralized program, LRSD is helping ease that responsibility for school staff so they can focus on the school day, while also building a more consistent, division-wide approach to supervision. Standardized procedures, New LRSD BLAST program supports families with safe, welcoming spaces BLAST OFF! GENEROSITY
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