After searching for a year and a half for childcare to no avail, Sarah Fennell was thrilled when she found a spot for her son at a licence-not-required daycare in Saanich.
Fennell didnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate to pay a $1,100 non-refundable deposit to daycare operator Jaylene Hawkins, to secure a spot several months in advance. Her son had been on the waitlists of more than 50 different daycare facilities across Greater Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚 saw this advertisement from Jaylene in June saying she had space available,B次元官网网址� Fennell told Black Press Media in an interview on Nov. 10. B次元官网网址淚 contacted her, and she said that we couldnB次元官网网址檛 do a tour of her place because she had just given birth. And she said that if I wanted to hold the space that I needed to pay a deposit, and that there were a lot of people interested.B次元官网网址�
At first, nothing about the agreed-upon arrangement appeared off, said Fennell. But she began growing suspicious in October when she was contacted by other parents claiming that their children were all scheduled for the same two spots at the daycare.
In B.C., a licence-not-required daycare allows for a caregiver to care for up to two children or one sibling group, in addition to those related to them by blood or marriage.
While Fennell had initial concerns about the overbooking, it was when she learned of HawkinsB次元官网网址� criminal record, which included fraud-related charges, as well as HawkinsB次元官网网址� husbandB次元官网网址檚 criminal past, that she ultimately decided to cancel her spot and confront Hawkins.
Fennel said Hawkins refused to refund her $1,100 deposit.
B次元官网网址淭hey know the contract,B次元官网网址� Hawkins told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淭hey know that the deposit is non-refundable, itB次元官网网址檚 not written in small letters, and they were willing to pay for the spots.B次元官网网址�
Hawkins said that sheB次元官网网址檚 been forthcoming and that sheB次元官网网址檚 run her daycare for five years without any complaints until Oct. 18.
B次元官网网址淚f they drop out for any reason, thatB次元官网网址檚 not on me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey were willing to join and if they found something else out after they signed up, thatB次元官网网址檚 still not on me. If they wanted to ask me about my criminal past, IB次元官网网址檓 an open book. I would be happy to explain.B次元官网网址�
Hawkins added parents have often cancelled their reserved spot at her daycare once managing to get their child accepted at a licensed facility, which is why sheB次元官网网址檚 collected multiple deposits despite only being able to legally care for two children beyond her own.
Gillian Fehr, chief executive officer of Gillybird Nature Schools, is aware of the allegations and said they highlight a much larger issue surrounding the state of childcare, not just in Greater Victoria, but across the whole province.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 capitalized on the fact that people are desperate for care and knows that people will keep sending her money for a spot when she knows it doesnB次元官网网址檛 exist,B次元官网网址� she told Black Press Media.
Fehr said sheB次元官网网址檚 never heard of anything like this before, adding that an increasingly desperate daycare situation is paving the way for potential scammers to take advantage of.
While doing a bit of background research on potential daycare providers may seem like a no-brainer to many, Fehr said itB次元官网网址檚 not always obvious to young parents.
B次元官网网址淭he fact is B次元官网网址� these are people who probably have a child for the first time. They donB次元官网网址檛 know to do those things. And itB次元官网网址檚 never been brought to their attention to do those things because theyB次元官网网址檝e never heard a story about someone who was scammed or taken advantage of by a childcare provider.B次元官网网址�
Island Health, the organization responsible for licensing, said itB次元官网网址檚 investigated the daycare and has confirmed that Hawkins is an unlicenced childcare provider.
B次元官网网址淯pon receiving a complaint, Island Health investigated and confirmed this person was operating in contravention of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act,B次元官网网址� Island Health said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭he operator is to immediately cease providing, or holding themselves out, as providing care to more than two children not related to them by blood or marriage.B次元官网网址�
The Community Care and Assisted Living Act defines a community care facility as a person providing care to three or more people who are not related by blood or marriage to the person providing care.
Island Health said it will continue to monitor the situation, but parents remain without answers.
The Saanich Police Department is also looking into the matter and said its investigation is open and active.
B次元官网网址淚 falsely assumed that someone who takes care of children for a living is a good person,B次元官网网址� Fennell said.
Do you have a story tip? Email: austin.westphal@saanichnews.com.
Follow us on and and like us on
