Daycare to remain open, for now
Millennium Place Society to issue request for proposals for third party to operate day care
PIQUE Newsmagazine
By Claire Piech
June 5, 2008

Even though Teddy Bear Daycare will cease operation at the end of this month, day care has not been completely scrapped from Maurice Young Millennium Place Society’s agenda.

In reaction to public outcry, the society has decided to issue a request for proposals for a third-party to operate the day care space for a 12-month period, which could begin as early as July 1st this year.

This announcement was made in a joint statement issued by the society and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation after the two groups met Tuesday, June 3 to discuss the society’s decision to shut the doors on Teddy Bear Daycare.

Sue Adams, chair of the society board, said the board had discussed possibly opening up the facility to be operated by a third party at the last board meeting when reviewing the community reaction to close the current day care.

“It just seemed like it was a compromise, and our board had discussed this at our last board meeting saying that if there was a third party operator willing to come in, then we would certainly entertain that,” said Adams.

“We decided that we could still continue with what we do as a society at this point, and continue to work around the day care.”

Kathie Watters, customer for Teddy Bear Daycare, said she was excited to hear the latest news.

“We are thrilled,” said Watters.

“This is great news to know that all of our efforts with petitions and council meetings and meetings with the board of directors were successful. It is nice to see that us little people, the backbone of the community, are not getting pushed around and we are actually listened to. This is huge.”

Watters said with the closing of Teddy Bear Daycare, she had been looking at other options for her daughter that “weren’t the greatest.”

“This is a huge relief that things are going to stay the same and my daughter can stay with her friends and hopefully the same care givers,” she said.

At least two operators, Whistler-Blackcomb and Mark Warner Whistler Day Care, have separately announced interest over the past few months to operate the day care as a third-party.

But in a letter issued by the society on May 16, and distributed at the following council meeting, the society rejected both groups’ offers.

“We did not anticipate the interest expressed by Whistler Blackcomb (and Mark Warner Group) to operate daycare in the Teddy Bear space,” read the letter, which was signed by board of directors members Adams, vice-chair Diana Lyons and treasurer Fiona Famulak.

“We discussed this as a board and concluded that we cannot entertain offers because of the potential impact on our charitable status.”…

 “I hope this gets resolved,” said Kamstra on Wednesday afternoon.

“I think there is a lot of parents out there that are quite concerned. I’ve gotten a couple calls already this morning, asking what is going on.”…

The issue received attention after local parents spoke out about the need for the day care centre to stay open, underlined by a petition organized by parent Jennifer Abbot which garnered over 300 signatures.

The joint statement issued MY Millennium Place Society and Whistler Blackcomb Foundation also announced that several studies will be done over the next year to assess Whistler’s future childcare needs, including an assessment by the Childcare Working Group.

A functional review of MY Place will also be done and an economic impact study of arts and culture will be conducted.

The MY Place Society will cease operation of Teddy Bear Daycare on June 30, but the space will not be altered or re-purposed until the above analyses are completed.