Our Future; Childcare is not just a problem for parents with young kids, it impacts us all
Nelson Daily News
April 2008
Editorial By: Bob Hall

…Nelson may not offer the same opportunities to young families -- primarily good paying jobs -- that other rural outposts do. But that doesn't mean the community isn't rich with babies and toddlers.

The combination of rural life, affordability for young families and the bigger provincial picture has put one key component of our community in crisis -- childcare.

My kids are seven and ten. The start of this school year was the first year in the past nine that our family did not rack up thousands of dollars in childcare expenses. More than the cost was nine years of scrambling to find the right situation for our kids. We're not out of the woods yet -- summer puts us in a bind -- but it's a relief to have the hardest part over.

The situation as it stands right now is not pretty for parents of young children. We wanted to know why and what the main issues are. Over the next couple weeks -- starting on our front page today -- we are going to dive right into the issue with a five-part series on childcare. The series will address the key concerns and highlight what parents and those in the industry feel needs to be done.

Children are our future and it's time we all start thinking a little more about the start we give them in life.