Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

REZONING ADVOCATES – Joy Agus, who wants to open a child care centre at the Days Inn hotel, and Edwin Woloshyn discuss the proposal Monday evening with members of city council.

Image title

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

OPPOSING THE PLAN – Katie Swales, a member of the Network for Health Early Human Development Yukon, described the proposed child care site as ‘largely inadequate.’

Concerns expressed over proposed child care centre

A local daycare owner is defending her plans to open a new centre at the Days Inn hotel, pointing out there will be outdoor space where children can play.

By Stephanie Waddell on January 15, 2019

A local daycare owner is defending her plans to open a new centre at the Days Inn hotel, pointing out there will be outdoor space where children can play.

On-site outdoor play space is not a feature that all daycares in the city have, Joy Agus argues.

Agus owns the Grow With Joy child care centre along with another daycare in Riverdale.

She spoke of her plans during a public hearing at Monday’s city council meeting on the proposed rezoning of the hotel, which would allow for the child care centre.

As she told council, Grow With Joy is the only child care centre in the city that provides 24/7 care.

The service has proved popular, with a number of calls coming from people living Outside who are moving to the city and looking for child care outside of the traditional Monday-to-Friday daytime hours.

There’s a waiting list of about 30 families, Agus said when questioned by Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu.

Given the high demand, Agus had begun looking for a larger space, and found the space needed at the Days Inn, formerly the Westmark Klondike Inn.

As she pointed out, the city does not allow for larger daycare centres to be located in many residential neighbourhoods, thereby limiting the potential sites available.

Along with plans for a 32 m-by-2.2 m area for outdoor play, Agus highlighted the possibility (yet to be confirmed, she stressed) of another larger area within the property for outdoor space.

Agus has also outlined plans to take older children to local parks and outdoor spaces downtown with a van that would be used to transport them.

Agus noted there’s a number of daycares in the city that don’t have their own outdoor space, but make use of local parks and such to ensure youngsters have time to play outside.

As noted by Edwin Woloshyn, who sat with Agus through the presentation, there is “plenty of space” for the children.

Agus was later questioned by council members for more details on the plans.

She confirmed that the child care centre could have up to 63 children (provided the staff-to-child ratios required by the territorial government’s regulations are met) under the one licence proposed.

Any outdoor space would feature fencing, sand or turf with playground-type toys, Agus said.

As she noted, there are regulations set out by the territorial government around how much space must be between any toys outside.

Agus’ and Woloshyn’s presentation came in response to concerns brought up about the lack of outdoor space.

Also speaking Monday evening was Katie Swales, a member of the Network for Health Early Human Development Yukon who has worked in child care for more than 20 years.

She pointed out a lot of research shows children’s development is hinged as much on being in the outdoors as much as being inside.

Child care programs, Swales said, should provide outdoor space that’s easily accessible right outside the door, ensuring that children get time outside every day. When weather permits, she added, they should have access to green space.

Swales argued that the territory’s requirements for child care facilities are on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to quality.

Under the territorial requirements, child care centres must provide access to outdoor space, allowing at least five square metres of play area per child, though that outdoor space does not have to be on the centre’s premises.

There are also requirements to be met around fencing for on-site play areas, areas that must be provided, condition of play structures and so on.

“Children depend on the community,” Swales said of making decisions in the best interest of youngsters.

She described the proposed space as “largely inadequate,” noting her group is strongly opposed to the zoning application.

Coun. Steve Roddick asked Swales about outdoor areas at other child care centres in the city.

She noted it seems to be a “mixed bag, really,” with some offering on-site outdoor play areas while others appear to have none.

Coun. Jan Stick, meanwhile, pointed to a potential review of regulations that would be done by the territory’s Department of Health and Social Services.

She wondered if the network Swales is part of will be bringing forward its concerns to that process.

Swales confirmed it will.

“Without question, it’s really important,” she said.

Yolande Vachon, a local resident, also spoke at the hearing. She noted child care provided in busier areas can allow for opportunities for children to learn about safety as they cross streets and walk to outdoor play areas.

Along with the presentations that were made at the public hearing, the city received four written submissions.

Three expressed support for the proposal, with the other being in favour, though highlighting some concerns.

In an interview after the meeting, Mayor Dan Curtis said he believes issues around the amount of outside space provided by child care centres are under the territory’s jurisdiction.

The city’s role has more to do with building inspections, looking at matters around traffic and parking and the like, he pointed out.

Curtis also noted his own children attended child care centres that didn’t have a lot of outdoor space on-site, but provided kids with a lot of outdoor opportunities in nearby parks and the like.

City staff will bring forward a report on the public hearing next week before council votes on the final two readings of the proposed rezoning at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Comments (19)

Up 11 Down 0

no concern about crossing street on Jan 18, 2019 at 1:05 pm

Joy is smart with her street crossings. She tethers the children up dog sled style. Maximum profit = minimum employees + maximum customers. "The gov says I can have 1 adult for 5 kids."

So she runs the maximum (I forgot the ratio).
It's an affordable day care with kids hanging out together. It provides a service. I just don't like the idea that people think it's top tier.

Up 13 Down 1

Inviteonly on Jan 18, 2019 at 12:33 pm

There are two types of daycares:
1) a business that makes money doing child care.
2) a business that does child care and makes money.

When you start to have a "chain" of daycares; you're running a business.

Up 8 Down 3

? i'm confused on Jan 18, 2019 at 12:19 pm

So a truck that is carrying groceries is going to pay a hefty carbon tax; which is then going to give a cheque to the guy at salvation army shooting up heroin in a safe place where the government checks their drugs to make sure they don't overdose?
Yay?

Up 16 Down 5

Yukoner on Jan 17, 2019 at 2:37 pm

My kids went to one of Joy's daycares. Never again. Workers constantly on their cell phones, and kids left unsupervised as a result. It's a no from me on this one.

Up 8 Down 21

Teaching 3yos in busy street? on Jan 17, 2019 at 9:07 am

No way. Teaching 3 yos to cross in busy street and whatnot when a mistake could mean a casualty??? Unless they offer 1 to 1 staff-child ratio, we are talking about risks associated with traffic area without any emergency stop button. When kids make a mistake, which are understandable for their age, it could lead to casualty. Have you seen toddlers & preschool kids move at all?

Up 9 Down 1

martin on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:58 pm

to Scam Alert: it is the perfect partnership presentation

Up 9 Down 5

State of Nannydom on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:23 am

Voice of "Reason" - think you might have some basic facts wrong. Days Inn is the place across from Home Hardware. Not the old River View (Best Value) next to the '98 Bar and Hotel on Wood and Front Streets.

Up 15 Down 4

wrong hotel on Jan 16, 2019 at 8:47 am

@ Voice of Reason - you're thinking of the Riverview. These are 2 totally different hotels and areas. The main thing you'll be smelling at this hotel is McDonalds.

Up 17 Down 5

Mr M on Jan 16, 2019 at 8:03 am

Obviously you do not know where the Days Inn is located it is not on Front St it is in the old Westmark Klondike Inn. You are talking about the Riverview on Wood st. Get your location right before you comment. I have never seen drunk people or smelled the odour of cannabis outside of the Days Inn.
There is a Daycare in the old Bumper to Bumper location beside Quiznos on Ogilvie St with no access to outside space oh and let's not forget the corner of 4th and Ogilvie another daycare without access to outside space.
I have heard nothing but good about the people wanting to open this daycare. I for one approve.

Up 35 Down 4

Aurora Borealis on Jan 16, 2019 at 5:51 am

Here’s a question Yukoners should be asking, why do only Francophone Yukoners get free daycare?
How does that work?
I guess when you’re the really squeaky wheel, you get all the grease.

Up 19 Down 3

Voice of reason, think you've got the wrong hotel in mind on Jan 16, 2019 at 5:29 am

Days Inn is old Klondike Inn, a few blocks from Front Street. But what bothers me about this discussion is that council members are letting their own opinions and experiences influence this, instead of looking at the application. No argument that kids need outdoor time, but they also need good reliable child care. Let this application go on its merits, not debate about outdoor space

Up 8 Down 21

Not where I'd want my kids to be on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:17 am

This is not where I'd want my kids to be. The bar used to have tonnes of smokers in it before smokers were required to be outside--I used to go there when we called it the Klondike Inn. Smoke in the building/vehicles does not ever fully go away and is detrimental to babies and youngsters. It is in a busy area, loud and dangerous due to traffic, not to mention causing traffic problems if there are going to be 60 kids housed there. Along the Riverfront or somewhere less busy would be preferable.
She is proposing a needed service, just not in the right location.

Up 19 Down 1

Max Mack on Jan 15, 2019 at 9:57 pm

"Network for Health Early Human Development Yukon". Where was this organization when other daycares submitted their applications? Why the special concern with this particular daycare? Sounds like this particular daycare is getting undue attention . . . maybe because certain individuals on council are trying to stack "anti" representations. Just saying . . .

Up 17 Down 5

Dan Huntsman on Jan 15, 2019 at 7:46 pm

Days Inn is not on front street it's on fourth.
I think these people will make it work and all the negative people should just pick another billy goat.

Up 16 Down 5

Scam alert on Jan 15, 2019 at 6:58 pm

She is good at proposing something and not keeping it. Over-rated, poor management, poor quality program, overworked workers (I honestly don’t think they are getting paid fairly). She keeps expanding and expanding and I don’t want other family’s kids to suffer how I did!

Up 14 Down 2

Google maps on Jan 15, 2019 at 6:24 pm

Check your map voice of reason. Days Inn is not on front street.

Up 15 Down 2

are you for real? on Jan 15, 2019 at 6:01 pm

Voice of Reason - FYI: the Days Inn is nowhere near Front Street. You should get your facts straight before criticizing.

Up 15 Down 1

Wrong hotel on Jan 15, 2019 at 5:49 pm

@voice of reason: wrong hotel... they are on 2nd... are you thinking of the river view?

Up 6 Down 52

Voice of Reason on Jan 15, 2019 at 4:29 pm

Every time I walk past the Days Inn, the smell of Cannabis wafts up and down Front St., from the motel's open windows. Not to mention the inebriated passed out on the sidewalk or hitting on the tourists for money.
Lovely environment for a Day Care. Not.

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