Nelson mulling City Hall day care
Cariboo Press - Kootenay Western Star
May 9, 2008

Nelson councillors discussed the feasibility of opening a child-care facility in the lower floor of the City Hall building during a council meeting Monday night

"I think it's a lovely idea," said Councillor Margaret Stacey.

"I wish they had one of these day care things when I was working and having kids," she added.

The solution proposed was to work with other child-care agencies and organizations to solve the child-care crisis by opening a facility in City Hall, which would make Nelson a model for the province and country.

Although most councillors expressed an interest in the project, more research must be done.

Factors such as where the washrooms of the facility would be, where the greenspace for the children to play would be, where to put parking and what wage the city would pay the day-care workers all need to be considered.

"We have to get a quality day care with decent wages," said Councillor Robin Cherbo.

The overall consensus of council was that they needed to examine the proposal further and make sure they are doing the right thing.

"We have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership," said Mayor John Dooley.

"If we don't explore it, we are never going to find out (whether we can do it)," Dooley added.