By Trudy Kelly Forsythe

The arrival of a new year is always a great reason to celebrate, but this year parents in the greater Moncton area have one more reason – the opening of the Downtown Daycare Co-op in the city’s new Peace Centre at 22 Church Street.

The idea for the daycare co-op came about during the Women’s Co-op Program, which is offered by the Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick (CECNB) and Support to Single Parents Inc.

Perfect fit

“In both classes that went through the program, there were women interested in doing a daycare,” says Amanda Hachey, co-op developer with CECNB. “It was timely that the Peace Centre was being built. They were looking for a daycare to put in there that had to be non-profit and they thought we’d be the perfect fit.”

Of course, a co-operative business model was the perfect fit for the initiative as well.

“Co-operative childcare provides parents with an alternate choice which can be very satisfying for the participating families,” she says.

Indeed, co-operative childcare programs foster collaborative and co-operative practices that support healthy childhood development; provide opportunities to meet other parents and their children; give parents opportunities to contribute their skills and existing abilities to benefit their child and the organization, including fundraising; and enable parents to make decisions and vote on policies for the childcare co-op.

Children benefit

Children benefit in a co-operative/parent participation program because they experience having their parent share and participate in their activities at school; can participate both as individuals and as a member of a group and experience a warm, accepting environment that supports and respects diversity.

“The co-operative is owned by parents in the community,” explains Hachey. “They can have a role in the decision making so they play an important role in the daycare. They can also volunteer at the daycare and spend time with the kids there.”

While daycare co-operatives are abundant across Canada, they are not as prominent in Atlantic Canada. Hachey says she knows of only two others in New Brunswick.

Opens doors in January

The Downtown Daycare Co-op officially opens its doors in January. It will offer 72 spaces for children aged 15 months to four years as well as an after-school program for children five to 13 years old. Program rates will be competitive with daycares in the community. 

“The goal of the daycare is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for children that encourages peace, co-operation, multiculturalism, learning and creativity and where children have opportunities to learn, explore, discover, make friends and have fun,” Hachey says. “Well trained staff and exemplary programs will assist the child in developing socially, intellectually, emotionally and physically.”

While the language spoken at the daycare will be English, it is partnering with a French daycare that will offer some activities in French.

Membership fees

To register children with the fully licensed daycare, families must be members of the Downtown Daycare Co-op. Families pay a one-time $20 fee. There is a $30 fee to have a child's space secured on the waiting list, but that will be transferred to a membership fee once the daycare opens and the child has secured a space.

Membership gives members the right to vote at the co-op’s annual general meeting and provides them with an opportunity to sit on the board of directors. Employees are also members of the co-op through the First Step Worker Co-operative, which is responsible for the operations, staffing and programming of the Downtown Daycare Co-operative.

For more information about becoming a member of the Downtown Daycare Co-op, or to reserve your child’s space at the daycare, contact Amanda Hachey at 858-1303, ext 103, or amanda.hachey@cecnb.ca.

The Downtown Daycare Co-op will be operated by the First Step Worker Co-operative, CWCF's newest member.