2nd Edmonton daycare closed after failing to meet licencing requirements

The province has announced the closure of a second Edmonton daycare.

Officials said Friday that Waverley Day Care in the Kenilworth neighbourhood was ordered to cease operations on Oct. 10 due to ongoing concern for the "health and safety" of children.

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According to a news release, the daycare was placed on a probationary licence until Oct. 31 due to "a number of non-compliances."

A notice posted to the facility's door indicated the daycare had the following non-compliances:

• On Oct. 3, child guidance practices that were not reasonable in the circumstances;
• On Oct. 3 and Oct. 9, medication was not locked as required;
• On Oct. 3, emergency medication was not stored in accordance with the child's health-care plan;
• On Oct. 9, a child was served a food listed as a dietary restriction;
• On Oct. 3, the program did not set out or provide school age children with a morning snack;
• On Oct. 9, the program did not set out or provide toddler and preschool children with a morning snack. The approved program plan and posted menu were not followed;
• On Oct. 3 and Oct. 9, broken, incomplete and developmentally inappropriate toys were offered to children; and
• On Oct. 9, children's attendance records were inaccurate.

Child Care Licensing worked with the operators in an effort to help them resolve the issues.

However, the province says the decision was made to cancel the licence.

"Due to ongoing concerns and increased risk, Child Care Licensing determined that there was an imminent danger to the health, safety and well-being of children attending the program, resulting in Waverley Day Care’s probationary licence being cancelled early."

The daycare is a private facility located in Waverley School.

According to the government, the closure will affect 54 children.

The program had space for 56 children in total.

Caregivers for the children who attended the daycare were told about the closure in person on Thursday.

The province says those not told in person will be notified by email.

The daycare has 30 days to request an administrative review, alternative dispute resolution or an appeal.

In a statement sent to CTV News, Justin Laurence, a spokesperson for the Jobs, Economy and Trade department, said a risk assessment matrix is used to determine the degree of risk children face when a licensed facility-based childcare program is found to have non-compliances during an inspection.

"Risk is dependent on the type of non-compliance, not the number of non-compliances," Laurence explained.

The announcement comes the day after the province announced the closure of Willowbrae Academy West Point Centre because of concerns about unsupervised children.

Laurence said the frequency of closures is coincidental and the two are in "no way" related.

Anyone with concerns about a childcare program in their community or needing to report an incident can do so by calling Child Care Connect toll-free at 1-844-644-5165.