Parents fight to save Côte Saint-Luc’s Little Sunshine program

Parents in Côte Saint-Luc were out Monday night trying to save their beloved children’s program from being shut down.

The Little Sunshine program is set to close in December because of low enrolment.

“My son is having the best time of his life,” Davina Mill said.

“My daughter has blossomed in the program,” Melodie Cohn said of her two-year-old daughter.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "My daughter has blossomed in the program," Melodie Cohn said of her two-year-old daughter.

In April, Côte Saint-Luc mayor Mitchell Brownstein posted a YouTube video of him explaining the program and inviting parents to enroll their children.

Watch below: Video posted by Côte-Saint-Luc mayor Mitchell Brownstein

The city also displayed posters throughout the city’s facilities, including the Aquatic Centre where the program takes place.

A website for the program was also created.

“It’s not getting the response that we’d like,” Brownstein said.

“Our parks and recreation team has given more effort to this program than probably any other program; particularly for its size.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Our parks and recreation team has given more effort to this program than probably any other program; particularly for its size."

Parents insist the efforts are not enough, arguing enrolment did not increase because it was badly marketed and poorly run by the city.

“To the point where a lot of us have to go over to Hampstead to be able to take part in programming for children,” Cohn said.

“It’s very disappointing.”

It’s why Tamar Hertz, another mother, is fighting to get an extension to the program, so they can get a fair chance to promote it.

“I’m willing to volunteer up to 10 hours a week as a volunteer program co-ordinator,” Hertz said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'm willing to volunteer up to 10 hours a week as a volunteer program co-ordinator," Hertz said.

“I’m willing to volunteer to find a corporate sponsor to provide an appropriate marketing campaign.”

Hertz and other parents took their plans to city council Monday night.

“If, for some reason, I’m not allowed to volunteer, then I am willing to do the job for one dollar,” Hertz explained to council.

The bottom line, according to the mayor, is the city cannot continue to run the program as is.

Brownstein said only about three to five kids are enrolled and the city is losing money.

The mayor says it’s losing between $5,000 and $8,000 per term.

They would need about 8 kids to make it work.

“We did a lot of extra work for this program, but it seems like people rather go to the private sector for daycare services,” he said.

The mayor hopes the private sector steps in and takes over the program, but parents say that’s not an option because they want the program to remain publicly funded and keep its educators.

“They then say the program is a failure, I don’t think it’s a failure, I think it’s the best kept secret of Côte Saint-Luc,” said Brownstein.

If by December, enrolment is not up, the program will be shut down.