Critic gets earful on Valley childcare
Cowichan Valley Citizen
March 14, 2008
By: Lexi Bainas

Parents, children and staff gave NDP Child Care Critic Claire Trevena an earful when she arrived at the Parkside Academy early childcare centre at Tansor Elementary School in Duncan Thursday morning.

Under the enthusiastic leadership of early childhood educator Danielle Unger, the children were gathered on a brightly coloured carpet, singing and counting, when she arrived on this first stop of a provincial tour to talk to people about childcare needs.

Adriana Soler, Parkside's "on floor' coordinator, gave Trevena a rundown on her facility's situation now that the host school, Tansor, is one of four elementaries slated for closure at the end of June.

A long hoped-for infant and toddler program for 16-20 children, which is fully enrolled even before it opens, is now in jeopardy because gaining funding requires an assured location, she told the NDP Critic and they are in limbo.

"Our program will continue on, no matter what, but (closing Tansor) will close the door for us on childcare in North Cowichan for sure. We have looked and there are no other places that can put us," said Soler.

Losing the connection to Tansor itself is also a worry for parents and Parkside staff, Soler said.

"It's the most beneficial aspect I can see. Our children aren't scared to go to Kindergarten. If you take any of these kids, whether they are three or four, they will know where all the teachers are in this building, where all the bathrooms are located, where the computer room is, where the gym is, and they are strong and confident. This is not a day care at all, this is their school: Tansor School. And that builds into the confidence that goes into being successful in school," she told Trevena.

Parents are scared, added Soler.

Many tell stories of how they've searched to find childcare and are so relieved when they make their way to Parkside.

"My waiting list is long. It depends on the program, of course, but we haven't done any advertising for the infant toddler program, we haven't even gotten our licence for that, but by word of mouth, we're full."…

Consistency is the key to growth; parents want to be able to see the future, she said.

"I've had lots of parents who want to put their children in now but they are waiting until the middle of April to see the trustees' final decision. As a parent myself, I would agree with them."

Trevena said she is hearing similar stories in other places but added, "what's special here is the integration of the facility into the school."…

"We hear of facilities in Duncan that are closing because of sickness or because they can't hold onto staff. That's very sad for our community, for our society. We need to show that these children really belong here," she said.

Trevena said her party was aiming at "a real plan" for children.

"If something is working, let's try something similar elsewhere, not shut it down," she said, adding, "It matters very much to come out to communities and talk to people in the field, talk to parents, about what is needed and what will actually work."