Whether public schools will be in session Tuesday, Sept. 2, remains to be seen.
Veteran mediator Vince Ready agreed to meet with B.C. Teachers’ Federation President Jim Iker and Peter Cameron, chief negotiator for the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, Thursday afternoon, after the Courier’s press deadline.
Education Minister Peter Fassbender met with Iker and Cameron Wednesday afternoon and asked them to set aside class size and composition issues that will be considered by the Court of Appeal and focus on wages and other points of contention that could be mediated and settled immediately.
He asked both parties to suspend all lockout and strike activities for two weeks “when Mr. Ready starts mediation,” according to a statement released by the Ministry of Education.
In the meantime, community centres and other organizations that serve children and families are scrambling to organize day camps.
The Courier listed options in a previous story. Additional possibilities include:
Neighbourhood houses and family centres
The B.C. Association of Family Resource Programs lists options on its website. For more information, see frpbc.ca, click on “directory,” “Vancouver Coastal” and then “Vancouver” to learn about drop-ins at neighbourhood houses and family centres.
Community centres
Twelve community centres plan to offer day camps while schools are closed because of labour disruption. They include Britannia, Champlain, Coal Harbour, Kensington, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Marpole-Oakridge, Ray-Cam, Roundhouse, Strathcona, Trout Lake and West Point Grey.
Prices vary. Some camps may already be full. To register visit vancouver.ca and click on “search.” For additional information, contact your local community centre or phone 311.
Coal Harbour and West End community centres will register five- to 12-year-olds for Kids Camps starting Friday at 9 a.m. Parents can phone Coal Harbour at 604-718-8222 or the West End Community Centre at 604-257-8333 with their credit card in hand or register in person. Camps are planned for Sept. 2 to 18. Children are to be registered one day at a time, with 30 spots at each of the community centres available, $30 a space.
The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre has planned two weeks of camps that are already full. Phercy Nacario, building supervisor, said more spaces could be made available if school closures continue and the centre can secure additional camp supervisors, who are typically university students that have returned to school. To join a waitlist, phone 604-713-1800 and dial extension 2. The camps serve children aged six to 13 and run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They cost $125 for a five-day week. After-camp care runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and costs $43 for a five-day week.
Museums and galleries
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is booking day camps organized by other groups. See vancouvermaritimemuseum.com.
The Museum of Vancouver is operating as usual from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It provides an activity sheet to kids for its historical galleries. Admission for youth aged five to 18 is $8. See museumofvancouver.ca.
The Vancouver Art Gallery hasn’t planned additional programming for the coming week but group tours can be booked. See vanartgallery.bc.ca.
Vancouver All Stars Baseball
This baseball camp for children ages 6 to 13 will run full-day, morning and afternoon Strike Camps. Sessions run at Carnarvon Park at West 16th Avenue and Macdonald Street. The full-day camp costs $250 plus tax for one week; a full-day drop-in costs $65. For more information, see vancouverallstars.ca.
Skills 4 Kids
Skills 4 Kids downtown is offering full-day classes during the teachers’ strike, with few spaces remaining, according to its website Thursday morning. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. based on the B.C. School Curriculum for children in Grades 1 to 3. For more information, see skills4kids.ca.
