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Potential new program attempts to combat local daycare crisis

Mar 2, 2017 | 1:00 PM

A long waiting list for a daycare space in the Battlefords has prompted an organization into the planning stages of creating an extended hours daycare and it wants the public’s opinion.

The Battlefords Indian Metis Friendship Centre will be holding a community wide meeting on March 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m at the centre, located on 960-103rd St. in North Battleford. There will be an open discussion of the possibility of a new daycare centre in the Battlefords.

In a press release, the centre wrote there should be more licensed daycare spaces in the area and wants the community to confirm their beliefs.

Crystal Swyryda, the director of Learning Tree Child Development Centre in North Battleford, didn’t need the public’s confirmation on the shortage, as she knows the community is in desperate need of more licenses.

“We absolutely do need daycares here,” Swyryda said. “Especially from six-and-half weeks [old] to 18-month olds.”

Swyryda said she has over a three page waiting list with roughly 40 families on it. Learning Tree can hold up to 62 kids and still needs more space. According to the director, a lack of government funding and low worker wages is the reason for the “crisis.”

According to the release from the friendship centre, parents are encouraged to come and ask questions, voice concerns regarding waiting lists and have an input on the planning stages of the potential daycare.

The released added “An ‘Extended Hours Daycare Centre’ offers flexible care for parents who may work outside of traditional work hours.”

The release said the facility would help nurses, police officers, retail or restaurant employees and any other jobs requiring shift work.

According to the release, the daycare would be open on weekends, holidays and hours outside of the customary work day but still offer tradition Monday to Friday service.

Anyone interested in attending or needing more information is asked to contact the Battlefords Indian Metis Friendship Centre.

 

Greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins.