Province, WB weigh in on child care: WCC director welcomes help, but says staffing picture still looks grim
Whistler Question
October 30, 2008
Bonny Mararewicz

WHISTLER – Whistler Blackcomb, the provincial government and local parents are rallying together to help the Whistler Children’s Centre (WCC) with its staffing challenges, but the centre’s director said this week the infant and toddler programs at the Spring Creek facility are still slated to close on Nov. 28.

Kari Gaudet, WCC’s executive director, said Tuesday (Oct. 28) that some families have been able to move their children to WCC’s Nesters location, but there’s now a waiting list of more than 100 families for WCC programs. The wait list has been “frozen” until enough child care workers with required certifications are in place, she said.

“Our staffing levels in general are in crisis,” Gaudet said. “We can’t take any more children now until we get our staffing situation rectified.”

Government officials are working to “fast track” out-of-province early childhood education (ECE) certifications, and Whistler Blackcomb (WB) has stepped forward to help WCC recruit staff and find housing. Both initiatives are helpful, Gaudet said, but with a province-wide shortage of daycare workers with the required Infant-Toddler training, it will likely be “very difficult” to find staff.

Local MLA Joan McIntyre met with representatives of WCC and municipal leaders last week and she’s been working with the Ministry of State for Child Care to try and help. She said the centre’s staff challenges have been a long-standing issue and the Province has granted “a number of exemptions all the way along” for staff without proper accreditation.

The Ministry has agreed to “fast track” applications by WCC staff for B.C. recognition of out-of-province ECE training, McIntyre said. Minister Linda Reid has identified Whistler as a “top priority,” she said.

“Whistler’s at the top of the pile given the urgency of the situation,” she said.

…An incentive for people taking Infant-Toddler training is being considered, she said.

The Province has invested in creating more daycare spaces in the Sea to Sky region, and it’s “heartbreaking” that there are spaces for children and now staff shortages are the issue, McIntyre said. The shortage of child care workers is a provincial and national problem, she said, adding that staff can’t be found at the snap of a finger.

“We’re trying to do everything to fast track the names we’ve got… and (give incentives to) the workers,” McIntyre said. “I appreciate the urgency of the issue… My heart goes out and I’m trying hard to help.”

Gaudet said the Province’s fast tracking of certification applications has been helpful, “but it doesn’t help our Infant-Toddler problem.” WCC is trying to recruit staff with Infant-Toddler training and they’re “few and far between,” she said.

Whistler is competing with other locations across B.C. for child care workers, and the community has drawbacks such as a high cost of living and a tight rental housing market working against it, Gaudet said.

That’s where WB comes in. After considering impacts of shutting down some of WCC’s programs on employees, business and the community in general, WB officials decided to get involved, said Joel Chevalier, WB’s director of employee experience.

The final details haven’t been worked out, but WB has offered to help recruit staff that will likely work three days a week for WCC and two days for WB, he said. The staff will be hired under the WB umbrella, so incentives such as a ski pass can be offered.

WB officials have already started advertising for the roles, and are also searching for housing for the prospective child care workers, Chevalier said.

“We’re on the hunt now for 15 more beds,” he said. As of Monday (Oct. 27), five beds had already been secured.

“It’s so important for us that this works,” Chevalier said. “It’s a community thing.”

WB also stepped in earlier this year to take over operations at Teddy Bear Daycare when the Millennium Place facility was due to close. Chevalier said in this case, WCC is in the lead and WB is providing support.

Though Chevalier said the situation is now looking “promising,” Gaudet said it’s a waiting game to see what kind of applicants surface from joint recruitment efforts with WB.

“I think it’s going to be very difficult to find the Infant-Toddler staff, but I’m always hopeful,” Gaudet said.

Parents are also hopeful, but Gaudet said she’s still advising everyone to be cautious and make other arrangements for care after Nov. 28. Some families who live in Squamish and Pemberton have arranged care in those areas to open up space for kids at the Nesters location, but the Nesters programs are now “jam packed” and the waiting list of more than 100 families remains, she said.

The future capacity at WCC also remains unclear, with Gaudet having to advise some parents on the waitlist that “it’s not looking good” for spaces to open up in the spring. She said she simply doesn’t have a date for when staffing levels will be in place to welcome more kids at WCC.

Gaudet said it’s important for all involved to continue advocating for child care in the Whistler community and to not give up hope.