EXCERPTS:
I am a 23-year-old mother of a five-year-old daughter.
I made the decision this year to make a career change, as I'd been searching for an apprentice position as a hairstylist for what seemed like ages. But no one wanted to pay me to work.
I was so ecstatic when I received the news that I was accepted by St. Clair College for Culinary Management. I went through the registration process and got all my paperwork done as soon as I could.
But just when I thought things were finally looking positive, I faced a road block. The one child care centre that was in partnership with my daughter's school was full for September 2014.
The Greater Essex County District School Board would not accept an application from me as it was "too late" to get permission for the transfer. But they did help by suggesting a partial solution that means asking a relative to look after my daughter after 6 p.m.
I am so outraged at the lack of child care facilities for school-aged children. When they are under four years old, it is a breeze to find a care facility because you don't have to be concerned with the schools and their boundaries.
I am hoping that one location will accept my daughter because if they don't, I am faced with having to put my dream on hold.
Making it next to impossible for parents to have the proper child care needed to work or attend school is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed.
Without it we would have no choice but to seek some kind of government assistance even just to work part-time in order to pay bills.
I can only hope when my daughter grows up and becomes a mother, this will no longer be an issue.