The YMCA of Greater Vancouver had 937 children on its “just in case” waiting list for Strike Camps as of Tuesday afternoon.
The YMCA announced Aug. 14 it would provide approximately 1,200 spots at 34 locations across the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast if a settlement between the government and teachers isn’t reached before the scheduled start of school Sept. 2. Fourteen of the 34 locations are in Vancouver.
“Parents are certainly stressed right now with things being uncertain,” said Kelly Walker, manager of marketing and communications for the YMCA.
The camps would be for children aged five to 12. Five-year-olds must be entering kindergarten this year. The camps would run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each week day and include physical activity and outdoor play. Camps would cost $15 a day for YMCA members and $30 a day for non-members at YMCA centres, with different prices at the Y’s other licensed childcare locations. The YMCA will provide financial assistance to families unable to cover costs.
Walker said vacant childcare spots exist at YMCA centres.
A spokesperson for the park board told the Courier in an email that parents should contact their closest community centre to check whether it is planning day camps for kids in September.
“If they felt they had the staff and resources, they would try to organize day camps for the kids this fall,” wrote Daria Wojnarski.
Vision Vancouver commissioner Constance Barnes expects commissioners to speak to park board staff about building on programs.
“We're not in a position to be taking that on, financially," she added. "We haven't budgeted for this."
Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House has approximately 290 school-aged children registered for before- or after-school care. It didn’t operate childcare at its six elementary schools during the teachers’ rotating strikes, but it offered care for 105 children a day at three school sites when a full-scale strike started, with support from the teachers’ union and principals.
The neighbourhood house’s director of childcare, Karen Cooper, has contacted the teachers’ union and principals. For now, she’s assuming Cedar Cottage has the support of the union, union representatives at schools and principals to operate at schools in September.
Cedar Cottage doesn’t have vacancies for additional children.
At the very least, Collingwood Neighbourhood House hopes to care for registered school-aged children if the strike stretches into September. Sharon Gregson, director of child and family development services for Collingwood Neighbourhood House, said it would keep a waiting list for families that aren’t registered.
Collingwood Neighbourhood House didn’t provide care in elementary schools during job action in June. The neighbourhood house refunded parents fees for 12 days.
“We’ve had a loss of revenue,” Gregson said. “Our budget is very tight every year so we count on being full and being full year-round.”First and foremost, she says, parents want the government to settle with teachers.
“The $40 a day [from the provincial government] is not helpful for parents who can’t find the kind of quality, the basic health and safety that they want, that they count on in licensed childcare,” she said. “So we’re just really willing to look at anything we can do to operate at this point.”
Gregson hopes to inform registered families about the neighbourhood houses’s plans by the end of next week.
Being on the YMCA waiting list doesn’t guarantee a spot, but the organization vows to offer care to all those it can accommodate. Walker said representatives would call parents to complete the registration process once details of the strike are known.
“As far as timing, we will be nimble to the situation as it evolves,” she said.
To add your child to the YMCA’s waitlist, phone 604-939-9622.
What is Gregson’s advice to parents?
“Call your MLA and let them know how much you want a settlement,” said Gregson, a former COPE and Vision Vancouver school board trustee.
Gregson, also spokesperson for the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., said parents hope the government’s offer of $40 a day for childcare during a continued strike means it’s moving closer to a commitment to $10-a-day childcare plan.
This story has been edited since it was first posted.
