More than 2,500 children and youth participate each week in summer day camp programs run by the Vancouver parks board for a total of 20,000 spaces in July and August.

Of that number, 120 children a week attend the summer day camp program at the Killarney Community Centre. Or they would attend if not for the civic strike.

"We also offer before and after day camp care for working parents," said Keith Jacobson, president of the Killarney Community Centre Association. "These programs provide safe environments for these kids and I don't know what they're doing now. I guess some of them will become latchkey kids and are going to spend their summer watching TV."

Jacobson notes thousands of dollars paid by parents for day camp will be refunded. Most of the university and college students hired to run the program are now unemployed and looking for work.

"Our students are losing that income they count on to help pay for school," said Jacobson. "Now I guess they're trying to find other jobs."

Jacobson said as a result of the strike more than 300 programs at Killarney alone are on hold….

"I guess they're staying at home now," he said. "My frustration is that the city raised my taxes 8.1 per cent to pay for services, but now that they're not supplying those services are we going to get a refund? That drives me crazy. I know if I don't pay my taxes I have to pay a fine."

Jacobson wondered why parking enforcement is considered an essential service by the city, when programs for kids and seniors, as well as garbage pickup isn't deemed essential.

"It's obvious the mayor doesn't care about families or health or he'd be back at the table getting this resolved," said Jacobson. …COPE parks board commissioner Spencer Herbert agreed day camps, day cares and seniors programs run by the parks board should be considered essential services. They are some of the main reasons he wants the city back at the bargaining table.

"I'm upset and feel like we've been forced into a strike," said Herbert. "The union wants to talk now, but the city is just not willing to negotiate. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck."