Something has to give
Pique Newsmagazine
Oct 15, 2008
BY: Joan Paterson, Whistler

Whistler is officially in another severe Daycare crisis. On Oct.10th it was announced that both the Whistler Children Centre Daisy and Blueberry programs in Spring Creek will be shut down. This means approximately 26 families will be faced to find alternative care for their children. The challenge here is there are no other options. The programs in Nesters are full and all other facilities do not take this age group, from 3 months to 36 months. Under B.C. legislation, in order to operate these licensed programs each class teacher must have their Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Infant Toddler (IT) certification. As indicated by one board member from the Whistler Children Centre “this is a dying breed,” implying less and less people are pursing ECE/IT as the demands of the job are very high and the pay is very low. With the added challenges of finding a home and managing high costs in Whistler it’s no wonder.

In order to keep these programs open we have been told we need to find two individuals with ECE/IT certification, which I have since been told “would be short of a miracle.” Now how does this sit as a parent who relies significantly on this daycare? Not well.

This is not only a problem in Whistler but across Canada. It is time governments revisit the overall qualifications needed to operate these programs. I appreciate that our children need the highest and most educated level of care but frankly what I have seen at the Spring Creek School has been superior care from teachers who hold their ECE certification. I know of two teachers who do have their IT certification from out of country, however this was passed as “not good enough”. Give me a break. Something has to give here.

As a single parent trying to manage a full time job in order to pay for a mortgage and feed a family, I rely on this daycare more than many can comprehend. The present staff have been my child’s answer to a very balanced and happy upbringing. I am devastated and now have to seriously consider if living in Whistler is even possible. It is crystal clear that the staff need to get paid more to keep them here. I am more than willing to pay more for daycare to keep our wonderful staff.

Not only are these present 26 families faced with this hurtle, what about the 96 families on a waitlist “hoping” to get into daycare? Their chances are now zero. Something has to change if we want to keep families here in Whistler. To me it doesn’t look like many of the working class families who manage this town will be here to help host the world in 2010.