Teething problems for childcare
The Free Press (Fernie)
09 Apr 2009
By: Rebecca Edwards

Negotiations on using an empty school for affordable daycare seem to have reached a dead end.

Fernie Childcare Society has been unable to reach agreement with the City of Fernie over the lease of the former Max Turyk School, which the City bought last fall.

Society director Heather Tokaryk said the overall cost of rent and estimated triple net costs for building maintenance and bills would cause the daycare to run at a deficit even if it was full all day and every day.

"Our board is torn. Some of us want to sign the lease and make it work somehow, some of us want to fight for affordable day care.

"We are stuck at a standstill until we go to the membership and ask them if they want us to keep fighting for the school, or look for somewhere else."

Fernie Mayor Cindy Corrigan said: "The City has bought this building and needs to be responsible to all the ratepayers. This is the agreement that we made as a council and it in no way says we do not support the childcare society but at this point, this is the only way we can work."…