KDSB making progress on daycare openings

The Kenora District Services Board says it’s making some progress in opening up child care spaces again.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Sarah Stevenson says a shortage of Early Childhood Educators was a problem in September.

“We only started with two (in September) and now we are up to eight,” Stevenson told Kenora city council at its open meeting this week.

“We have a level of confidence that we are going to be able to open an additional two, come the new year, after Christmas.”

Stevenson confirms that a lack of Early Childhood Educators really set them back.

“Our dedication and commitment are to ensure that those programs are getting operational. We have been able to get six of the programs up and running since September.”

Stevenson adds they will be beginning to recruit students in the ECE programs at colleges in the new year, as they get ready to graduate in April.

She points out that the average salary for a qualified ECE is over $30 an hour, so she believes that’s not an issue for recruitment.