The Yukon Child Development Centre will be moving into some temporary quarters for the duration of the coming school year.

A leak in the ceiling of the centre at the Yukon government’s Lewes Boulevard building has caused an infestation of mould that’s serious enough to close the building for months.

That’s the word from government spokesperson Anthony DeLorenzo.

“I don’t think the building will be usable this school year,” he said Thursday.

Over the summer, the infestation was discovered while some other work has been done.

He said it appears to be fresh mould, which means exposure for staff and children was likely minimal. The centre is barely used during the summer.

DeLorenzo said mould is something that building operators have to show due regard for.

Basically, he said, any mould is unacceptable from a maintenance and health perspective.

“We have to chase it all down and clean it up,” he said.

He told the Star the government has found some new space that seems suitable for the centre’s needs in the meantime.

“I’m very excited about that,” DeLorenzo said. “The centre has some very specific needs, so it made it more difficult to find a suitable space, especially when space is at a premium.”

He didn’t identify the location. That announcement should come shortly, he said, possibly even by next week.

The centre is a non-profit organization that leases space from the government, making it YG’s responsibility to find alternate quarters.

The centre provides developmental programs and resources for children from birth until they begin attending school in kindergarten.

“It’s an incredibly important program,” DeLorenzo noted. “It’s really hard to find space, much less something suitable for the programs they want to offer.

“It’ll be a bit of a disruption for staff, parents and children,” he said, “but we hope it’s minimal.”

Staff training and orientation sessions have already begun, and normally the centre would be in full operation by the beginning of September.

DeLorenzo said the new schedule shouldn’t be far off of that.

In the meantime, YG has hired a consultant to come in and devise a remediation plan for the centre.

For the moment, the extra expenses of moving the centre to an alternative location is being handled by the government.

Once the consultant reports back, DeLorenzo said, a cost estimate for the repairs can be prepared.