Edmonton parents looking to daycares as possible Alberta teachers’ strike looms

As parents scramble to figure out who is going to look after their kids, with a potential teachers’ strike looming in Alberta, some are turning to daycares to fill the gap for young children.

Edmonton childcare operators and families are getting ready for a full strike, potentially starting Monday.

Hao Jin is the director at Stars Corner Daycare, and has been following the news of Alberta teachers’ negotiations since the summer.

Realizing the families he works with may have a need and preparing for what may come.

“Younger children whose family has older siblings. So that’s my first reaction. Like those children, like those families who have older siblings, they might need help,” said Jin.

Jin has been working on a plan, after parents approached him in case teachers walk off the job.

“Slowly, more parents start coming asking us, like, okay, like, are we able to send older ones here with you as well, all day? Because they trust us. They know our environment on all the stuff really well.”

The daycare is now prepared to welcome older siblings of the children in their care while trying to keep the costs down, charging just $15 more per day for families who already bring their kids there.

For any new families coming in, waiving registration fees and long-term commitments, charging only a drop-in rate of $40, only for the days they need it.

Not something everyone in the community needs, some parents telling Jin they have other family members to help out, they can just work from home, and some are planning to take their kids to work, including his own staff, for free.

Shereen Khalil, an early childhood educator at Stars Corner Daycare, is worried for her other son, who is in Grade 12, as the strike may affect his university applications.

“Inside the school, all the teachers over there, they told them, one hour it will affect you. So think about it. It’s if days. So it will affect him, for sure,” said Khalil.

This is just one of multiple daycares sharing on social media that they’re welcoming more children with the strike looming.