MONTREAL – With teachers about to hit the picket lines once more, parents are scrambling to make alternative arrangements.
If teachers aren’t at school, that means kids aren’t either.
So, for parents who can’t take the day off work, alternatives are popping up all over the city.
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“We’re running activities during the days off,” said Lisa Mancini, co-director of Camp de Jour, Pierrefonds.
“So, we have things like going to Funtropolis, we have outings each day. The kids come, they’re supervised, and they just really have a good day.”
Another option for parents is the Provigo Pierrefonds.
Melissa McDonnell is the marketing coordinator of Provigo’s cooking school and a mom of two.
When she heard about the strikes, she thought of the idea of extending Provigo’s cooking classes from summer and spring break to strike days.
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“My son is at Marguerite-Bourgeoys, so for this type of strike day, I definitely see a need,” said McDonell.
“As a working mom, where do you put your kids, what can you do?”
“I basically thought that would be something that might be of interest for the community,” she added.
McDonnell said kids will stay busy cooking, baking and playing games in the afternoon.
“It’s not something where they just sit and follow,” she said. “They get to do everything, they learn, we teach them about the different ingredients, so it’s very interactive for them.”
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Another interactive activity available is the day camps at Mon Gym in Pointe-Claire.
They focus is on physical activity, arts and crafts and of course, a good time.
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“Being a father of three, it’s important for me to be able to trust where I’m leaving my children and have these kind of options open to me,” said Gary Grant, owner of Mon Gym.
Other organizations offering services for strike days are:
- Concordia University Loyola Campus: $25 a day, Grades 1-6
- Workshops at Montreal Cupcakes, Pointe-Claire: Ages 5+
- 4Cats, Kirkland $45 half day, $90 full day
- Camps de Jour DDO, Civic Center:$20 a day
- Mi Clase, Spanish lessons and daycare services
- Park Place Daycare, Dorval: $36 a day
- Pierrefonds Day Camps:$30 – $35 a day
- L’Écho des campeurs: $20 – $25 a day
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