Letter to the Editor Re: “Seniors housing squashes childcare space” Friday July 2, 2010.

To the editor:

Re:  “Seniors housing squashes childcare space” Friday July 2, 2010.

As a non-profit organization serving the needs of our community, we feel it’s important to clarify some of the information contained within Megan Stewart’s July 2nd article. Firstly, we’d like to stress that senior’s housing will not be pushing any daycare spaces out of the new development and in fact, not a single child care space will be lost. As we are about to finalize the working drawings for Kits House, we would like to ensure that the community is aware that both affordable Seniors housing as well as a 25 space daycare centre have been incorporated into the redevelopment.  The existing daycare can no longer function in its current location as there are numerous hazardous infrastructure issues arising. Our redevelopment is necessary to keep the kids, parents and daycare providers safe.

Secondly, as a community partner and in recognition of the importance of maintaining the additional 25 spaces of daycare, Kits House has been working with and supporting the Kitsilano Daycare Society for the past 3 and half years to find alternate space to operate. In addition, in the event that Kitsilano Daycare Society is not able to find an alternate location, Kits House has agreed to give priority to current parents still needing care and parents currently on the KDS waitlist once the redevelopment is complete.

We couldn’t agree more that a lack of affordable daycare spaces is nearing crisis levels. Kits House is working hard to ensure that the Westside of Vancouver will have at least one long-term, safe, 25 space Daycare Centre for children 3 – 5 years of age, and we hope to see KDS find a permanent home soon so that together our two organizations will double the number of child care spaces available in our community.

Catherine Leach

Executive Director

Kitsilano Neighbourhood House