Dawson Creek scores a "D"
Peace River Block Daily News
June 15, 2007
Submitted by the Parent Group Trying to Save City Kids Day Care

Editor:

As the parents who utilize City Kids Day Care, we wanted to show City Council that there is a great need for Day Cares within the city of Dawson Creek. When City Kids announced its closure, parents were given a letter of notification. As well, they were provided with a list of licensed Day Cares for parents to contact regarding future arrangements for their children prior to the closure of City Kids on June 29, 2007. It was from this list that parents started contacting the Day Cares, asking questions that any parent would ask when seeking day care for their child. These are the questions that were asked of the daycares between May 15 and May 21, 2007:

1. Hours of Operation
2. Cost per day and what that cost includes.
3. How many children can you accommodate?
4. Do you have any vacancies?
5. Is there a waitlist, how long is it and can I put my name on it?
6. How many full time and part time spots do you have?

The information that was submitted to City Council from the parent group came from the questions asked and the answers given from the Day Cares contacted during the week of May 15-21, 2007. It is our understanding that since our inquiries about vacancies one of the group Day Cares contacted has opened several new spaces. These new spaces are very much appreciated but these spaces will not meet the needs of all the families still looking for day care.

The need for day care spaces surpasses the availability now and what does this mean for new families coming into the community? The parent group is trying to raise awareness to members of council that there is a great need for Day Care and to consider the possibilities of turning around the decision to close City Kids. We have asked for the opportunity to work with council to find a solution to this very important issue that the community faces with the closure of City Kids Day Care.