Fort St. John's critical shortage of day care spaces received a hit on Tuesday when over 50 families were informed that the ... Child Care Centre is shutting down.

Owner Charlene Gifford said a year-long search for a suitable space turned up empty, and with the two-year lease set to expire on Aug. 31, she was forced to give notice to clients….

Five employees will also be out of a job next month.

The closure forces a number of families back on the hunt for day care in a city where waitlists are already backed up. At the time of yesterday's announcement, Lollipop alone had 30 families waiting for a spot.

The situation will likely force some parents to take time off work if they can't find suitable options.

Angela Nielsen learned of the closure on Tuesday morning, and she's not confident that with just over a month left she'll be able to find day care spots for her two children.

"People that want to work but have kids have nowhere to go (for child care)," she said. "I have to work, and I can't just leave my kids at home."

While private child-care facilities remain an option, Nielsen added she's not willing to go down that road, saying they are "unreliable compared to a licensed facility."

Gord Weeber, who was picking up his two children ..Tuesday afternoon, said he wasn't sure what his family would do.

"If we don't find anything, either my wife or I will probably have to stay home in the fall with the kids," he said.

Mayor Jim Eglinski wasn't surprised when he learned the day care was having trouble finding a new home.

Licensing states that a daycare of … size requires 3,500 square feet of usable space (not including defined spaces such as closets and kitchens), five bathrooms, and a fenced playground in the immediate vicinity.

"It's a needed facility, and it's not a good thing to see it close... but there aren't that many buildings available around that size," Eglinski said.

The City of Fort St. John doesn't have any available buildings at the moment, and high rent makes commercial spaces less of an option for day cares, which turn a marginal profit, he added.

Through the help of local realtors, Gifford said she did find at least one suitable location, but at $7,500 per month, not including utilities, the price was too steep.

"It's difficult when you are only charging $35 per day and you add onto that heat and hydro and insurance costs," she said.

Eglinski said the City is not prepared to develop a facility at this time, but he has circulated the need for a facility ..in the hope that someone will come forward.

"I'm hoping we can get some input from one of the staff members or councillors...(Gifford) said if she can find a place she can stay open," he said.