EXCERPTS
Parents are getting help finding daycare after a private child-care centre closed its doors, the province confirmed Wednesday.
The Treehouse Treasures Child Care Centre was a licensed as a private facility. It operated at 1790 Main St. The province said it is now unlicensed and closed.
"We were aware it was going to close," said a Family Services spokeswoman. "We're working with the parents to help them establish a licensed non-profit centre or help them get alternative child care," the spokeswoman said.
The centre had 38 licensed spaces -- most recently 33 children were enrolled, according to information provided to the province.
The owner placed a notice of closure on the front door over the weekend.
The owner of the centre is listed as Pavao (Paul) Feldvari, a resident of Edmonton. He could not be reached for comment.
The owner advised the province he had met with all interested parents in early September to let them know he would no longer operate the daycare, a Family Services spokesman said.
Family Services staff were advised the owner had approached parents about taking over the centre. As a result, staff met with parents who were looking into the possibility of setting up a non-profit centre, the spokesman said.
"To date, of eight families who have asked for assistance, three families have found spaces elsewhere and we have provided contact information to the five others as an offer of assistance to find alternate spaces," the spokesman added.
"We have worked with parents to help them establish a licensed, non-profit child-care centre and continue to be open to pursuing that with them. We also continue to assist parents to find alternate child-care arrangements."
The owner advised the province he will refund parents' outstanding deposits.
Daycare fees for non-profit and subsidized daycare spaces are set by the province at $18 a day for preschool care and $28 for infants under the Manitoba Child Care Program.
Private daycares, like Treehouse, can set their own rates. As a licensed but private daycare, the centre received no provincial child-care subsidy.
Manitoba had nearly 32,500 licensed daycare spaces for infants, preschool and school-aged children, including those with additional support needs, early in 2014 when the province announced a $9-million construction program to add 250 new daycare spaces at five schools. The schools are in Winnipeg, St. Andrews and Oak Lake.