With B.C. teachers going on strike for the next three days, working parents are scrambling to figure out what to do with their children.
In Vernon, calls to the Child Care Resource and Referral program have increased, with parents needing full days of child care instead of the usual after-school program.
Centre director Kirstie Blanliel said the after-school child care program run by the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the strike, which is set to run Monday through Wednesday.
“Typically, our goal is always to meet the needs of families, especially our members, so we have just changed our staffing complement and are offering full day care on those days and are also offering some recreation during the day for older kids from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that is not part of our licensed child care program,” she said. “We’ve definitely had more calls and we’ve got parents coming in and asking us what we have available, but our parents know that we’ll be open for them.”
Blanliel said many parents she’s spoken to are taking the “we’ll-make-it-work” approach to the sudden change in their child care plans, with some turning to friends and family or even just taking time off work.
“And we have a lot of parents who don’t usually access our services utilizing our services, although those who are already accessing our services are given priority, so they are getting their needs met for sure, and we’ll just go with the flow,” she said.
Blanliel added that parents wanting more information about recreation programs for their children this week, can call the centre at 250-542-3121.
Meanwhile, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well throughout the North Okanagan, with programs being set up to keep kids entertained and give parents peace of mind.
Vernon Recreation Services has created a flexible registration day camp for children ages six to 12, with a variety of fun activities planned. For more information, call 250-545-6035, ext. 0.
The Okanagan Science Centre will offer day-long science camps on planned strike days from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with after-camp care available until 4 p.m. Call 250-545-3644.
Up at Silver Star Mountain Resort, the Snowsports School will offer three days of alpine fun, which includes return transportation, full-day supervision, lessons, lunch, lift tickets and rentals. Call 250-558-6065.
Silver Star will also offer transportation to the mountain, but no supervision, on the A&W Dub Ski Bus, leaving Vernon A&W on Anderson Way at 8 a.m.
At Marshall Field, guide Mikaela Cannon will offer interpretive nature hikes all three days of the strike from 10 a.m. to noon each day. For more information on rates and to pre-register, contact mikicannon@gmail.com or call 250-306-1915.
And finally, students who are looking to get creative can stop by The Hub Arts Collective in downtown Vernon, where owner Matt Brown will offer classes, leading kids in a fun program of acting, art and movement for either a half day or full day. For more details, see www.thehubartscollective.com
While school facilities will stay open during the three-day strike under the supervision of school district staff, students will not be provided with instruction or appropriate levels of supervision.
“We are therefore requesting that parents keep their children at home or make alternate arrangements for their care on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said district superintendent Bev Rundell, adding that school buses will not be running.
“It is the sincere hope of the board of education that this dispute will be concluded quickly and that normal school operations will resume as soon as possible.”
