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Kitsilano Daycare Centre has operated in Gordon Campbell's riding for nearly four decades.
Vancouver (25 June 2010) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is calling on the MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey, Premier Gordon Campbell, to protect a daycare centre in his riding.
The union is urging Campbell to "safeguard the future of the Kitsilano Daycare Centre and its 25 child care spaces at its current location at the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House."
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The Kitsilano Daycare Society has operated the facility, for children aged 2 1/2 to three years, for nearly four decades.
The Kitsilano Neighbourhood House is to close temporarily later this summer, while it undergoes renovations. So far, the neighbourhood house’s administrators have refused to guarantee the society and its daycare will be allowed to move back into the facility.
The BCGEU is urging Campbell to ensure the society is the guaranteed daycare provider when the neighbourhood house reopens in 2011. Without the guarantee, the society will cease to exist.
“The Kitsilano Daycare Society has provided a quality early learning experience to hundreds of children for almost 40 years,” says BCGEU president Darryl Walker. “For parents, the daycare has represented a place where they can leave their children with peace of mind while they work, study and make their contributions to our society. The daycare will no longer be there to provide that peace of mind.”
Five early childhood educators who work at the centre are represented by the BCGEU.
“These workers have combined experience of about 75 years. They won't be allowed to continue to provide early childhood education if the society is allowed to fold,” says Walker.
The centre is holding an open house on Sunday, June 27, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to alert the public to the situation. The address is 2305 West 7th Avenue (at Vine).
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE