There is lots to be excited about at the Community Celebration being held this Saturday at the future home of the Kootenay Child Health and Development Centre.

"We are celebrating the beginning of renovations to the building, there will be the draws for the winners of the Closer to Home Closer Together sweepstakes and then we will also have a couple of cheque presentations as some funding money has come in," said Patricia Whalen, manager of Children First. "It's also to increase awareness of the health centre, where it's at, and what it's all about."

The Community Celebration begins at noon, Saturday May 7 and will continue until 4 p.m. in the parking lot across from Safeway. Whalen encouraged everyone to come out to the event, learn about the centre and enjoy some family fun. For children there will be a bouncy tent, pony rides, the East Kootenay Children's Train, face painters and even a construction tent where children can make a planter for Mother's Day. There will also be a barbecue and cake to commemorate the event. Whalen said they are partnering with Giant Tiger as the store is also celebrating its 50th anniversary on the same day.

The Kootenay Child Health and Development Centre will be one stop shopping for child health services, Whalen said.

"There will be many different specialists that will help children from birth to 19 years. The two pediatricians currently in Cranbrook will move into there, we'll have occupational therapy, physiotherapy, aboriginal services, autism services, support child development, and infant development," she said. "There will be lots of specialty areas and everyone will be located together to reduce the stress that parents have in travelling. The centre is located in Cranbrook but it's open to all East Kootenay families."

The centre will also have Telehealth services, which will also reduce travelling for families.

"Instead of having to go to Calgary, Kelowna or Vancouver, they can come into the building for the follow up appointment and use Telehealth," Whalen said. "They can be in the building having their appointment via teleconference rather than having to go to outside of the region.

"It's going to be just a wonderful spot for parents. It's going to be very helpful to the families of our region."

So far $350,000 has been raised and Whalen said they are looking to raise another $500,000, depending on the funding announced Saturday.