A new child care centre is ready to open in Saanich, but a lack of teachers is keeping its doors closed.
B次元官网网址淔or the past two years itB次元官网网址檚 been hell,B次元官网网址� said Brenda Irvine of . B次元官网网址淚t has never been this bad. And it causes so much stress, because itB次元官网网址檚 either that or close.B次元官网网址�
Irvine currently operates four centres in Saanich and Victoria, but the lack of an early childhood educator is preventing her from opening a fifth centre on Onyx Place in Saanich.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been crazy, and IB次元官网网址檝e been around for a long time,B次元官网网址� said Irvine, who has been in business for 42 years.
Although she obtained the business licence for the Onyx Place facility this week, she is unable to open until she finds a new ECE. She has already forked out $2,100 rent plus utilities for July and August.
B次元官网网址淚 had a staff who was with me for a year. I gave her top dollar that I could ($21 an hour) and full benefits. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough and she wanted more,B次元官网网址� said Irvine, adding the staff member left three weeks ago to start her own child care facility.
She says she has had an ad constantly running on numerous websites, offering $19 to $21 an hour, depending on experience. But itB次元官网网址檚 been months since sheB次元官网网址檚 had any takers.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 constantly using my time to find teachers. ItB次元官网网址檚 not even so much a teacher, itB次元官网网址檚 a good one,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the going rate has been $18 or $19 an hour for a long time. B次元官网网址淣ow theyB次元官网网址檙e asking for $25, and financially I would have no profit.B次元官网网址�
Irvine currently employs six staff, with one working as office manager and another serving as a floater to cover for any unexpected openings.
The provincial government has promised, outlining a plan it its budget to bring on 2,300 new ECEs by 2021.
But Irvine believes the government is taking the wrong approach, saying providing even $2 an hour towards ECE wages would go a long way to finding a solution.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e done it backwards. The government is taking care of the families, but you canB次元官网网址檛 have day care without the teachers.B次元官网网址�
Irvine says she does have a lead on a new early childhood educator, who she is bringing in for an interview from Vancouver this weekend.
Despite the difficulties she has encountered, Irvine isnB次元官网网址檛 ready to give up. She has plans to open a sixth child care centre, next door to her Garnet Road facility, by the end of the year.
