CHILD CARE: WB takes over daycare operationVillage facility gets one-year reprieve; studies underway
Whistler Question
Jennifer Miller
August 7, 2008

WHISTLER – After the public outcry following the announcement in March that Teddy Bear Daycare was set to close to make way for arts and culture uses in Millennium Place, there was little fanfare when Whistler Blackcomb (WB) took over the operation of the facility at the end of June.

Appeals to Whistler Council, a petition signed by hundreds of parents and employers, and the personal involvement of WB President Dave Brownlie resulted in an announcement in early June that the Millennium Place Society board would accept proposals for a third-party operator for the Village daycare. Two proposals were submitted and WB was the successful proponent, said Sue Adams, chair of the Millennium Place board.

Jennifer Abbott, the mother who started the petitions to keep the daycare open, said parents found out at the “11th hour” that the daycare would continue operating after the June 30 deadline. Word came on Friday, June 27, after many parents had already arranged alternative care to begin the following week, she said.

“Finding out three days before left a lot of parents fairly anxious,” Abbott said.

Still, she said the transition has gone fairly “seamlessly” and she’s heard that many parents are planning to return their children to Teddy Bear now that another operator is in place. Abbott’s 3-year-old daughter is still attending the daycare.

“We’re just thrilled. I think it’s a natural choice for Whistler Blackcomb to take over operation of Teddy Bear,” she said. “All the parents are so appreciative of all their efforts on our behalf.”

Before the …facility opened in the Hilton Whistler Resort in April, Teddy Bear was the only Whistler daycare offering drop-in weekday and weekend care for both visiting and resident children. Since WB took over operations of Teddy Bear it has only been open Monday through Friday, but Abbott said parents are being asked if they’d like the centre to be open on weekends again.

Joel Chevalier, WB’s director of employee experience, said all the employees of Teddy Bear Daycare are still working at the centre and are now on the WB payroll. Organizational support is coming from employees at WB’s Ski School because the school operates some childcare services during the winter season, he said.

“It’s great news,” Chevalier said. “It was important for us to keep it open.”

…Abbott said WB’s one-year term to operate the daycare raises questions about what will happen to the space next year and beyond. With the Rainbow and Cheakamus Crossing employee housing developments underway, it seems Whistler will only need more daycare spaces, she said.

Abbott said she’d like parents to have the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process for the future of daycare in Whistler.