Parents and caregivers in Huron and Perth counties are being invited to a town hall meeting to talk about the loss of before and after school child care programs in the region.
The town hall will take place on Friday, January 30th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m, at the Hensall Rec Centre, in the upper hall.
Organizer, Marnie Van Esbroeck says the goal of the meeting is to share more information about the closures and its effects.
Representatives from both the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board and the Avon Maitland District School Board are expected to attend.
The issue dates back to August, when London Bridge announced it was closing its before and after school child care programs at three schools in South Huron and Bluewater. Since then, parents have come together to push for solutions.
Those petitions were presented to both school boards at the end of October. The public board petition had 450 signatures, while the Catholic board petition had 120 signatures.
The organization called Trees and Me Forest School has started the process of getting licensed to provide before and after school care at Exeter Elementary School, Precious Blood Catholic School, and Bluewater Coast Elementary School. Van Esbroek says there is hope the programs could be running by September. The owner of Trees and Me Forest School, based in Bayfield, is expected to attend the town hall to share updates and plans. The organization is also currently looking to hire staff.
She says while there is some hope for September, many families are still without care for the rest of the school year. She also points out that some schools, including St. Boniface and Stephen Central, still do not have before and after school programs at all.
Van Esbroek says the loss of before and after school care has been very challenging for families.
In rural areas, school buses have helped in some cases, but winter weather and frequent cancellations have added stress.
Van Esbroek says access to before and after school care is important because it takes place in the school, which adds a level of safety.
No registration is required for the town hall. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, early childhood educators, and anyone concerned about the issue are welcome to attend.
More information can be found at extendtheday.ca, or by searching for the Extend the Day Huron-Perth on Facebook.
