Lack of child care isn’t a new problem for parents in the RM of St. Andrews, but as of now, it’s one with no viable solution.
“We have over 120 something kids on our wait list,” said local child care provider Terry Vanoutrive.
The community is crying out for additional before and after school programs to help families with kids aged six and over.
One parent said, “there’s a real desperate need out here.”
In 2011 the province pledged $1 million towards day care in St. Andrews for a new daycare building to go up beside St. Andrews School.
The facility will have 40 spaces available for 32 for preschool aged children and eight for infants.
However, parents have said it’s not enough.
“We were really hoping that it would be more like 70 spaces,” said Carrie Pacey.
The centre will not include before or after school care and after the community lost nearly 40 spots over the past two week, it’s something parents have said is desperately needed.
“We’ve all just kind of decided today I’ll leave work early and pick up all your kids and tomorrow you can do the same for me and amongst everybody that’s what we have been doing for the last couple of weeks,” said Tracy Dobrowlski.
Carrie Pacey took the problem into her own hands and wrote a children’s book about the community. The books are being sold for $15 and all the proceeds go towards creating more child care spots.
“Women need to be able to know that they can go back to work to help support their families,” said Pacey.
The parents started a petition asking for the government’s help and are hoping the signatures will turn into childcare spaces for their kids.
Books can be purchased through Carrie Pacey at the website StarElc.ca
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