Still no daycare space for kids affected by Hazel Trembath school fire

With school starting in less than a month, some parents in Port Coquitlam are frustrated and fearful their kids won’t have a place to go in the fall.

The daycare that was once adjacent to Hazel Trembath Elementary is gone, following the suspicious fire at the school nearly two years ago. The facility was temporarily moved to a church and an application had been made to move the kids to James Park Annex. However, the lease is done, and no new space has been confirmed.

Liz Da Cunha has two young children: a five-year-old daughter, who needs daycare right now and a two-year-old son, who’s currently in care for a total of six hours a week, which isn’t enough for her and her husband.

Da Cunha is a nurse and says she’s trying to work nights and weekends so that at least one parent is with the children at all times.

“Currently, we are still waiting for, hopefully, a new location. So, all the families have scattered. Some are in other daycares. Some of the kids are at home. Some of the kids are in day camps, and everyone is just trying to figure out what’s the best option for their family,” she told 1130 NewsRadio.

Da Cunha is upset.

“It’s been very frustrating. I didn’t put my daughter in camp this summer. My son, I didn’t register him in any activities because he was supposed to be starting [daycare] in July. So, the plan is he was going to be transitioning to start daycare, and she was going to be continuing into daycare. She starts kindergarten in September, and now I’m working, and we’ve just tried to find different activities to be doing on a day-to-day basis. We’re all just in limbo here.”

She feels the situation underlines the need for more daycare facilities in the Tri-Cities.

“The only outdoor daycare in the Tri-Cities is Hazelwood Early Learning Centre. There are some outdoor pre-schools, but it’s literally the only one that is a full-day daycare, and I’m still not clear why it’s been such a challenge for Fraser Health to accommodate this type of a program.”

In a statement, the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) tells 1130 NewsRadio the operator of Hazelwood Early Learning Centre withdrew its active license application in June of this year. Adding, the operator doesn’t have a new location and needs to resubmit any paperwork before a daycare is approved.

“As part of the standard licensing process for all new child care facilities, the applicant must work with our Community Care Facilities Licensing (CCFL) team to ensure they are in compliance with all provincial regulations and standards of practice. This includes submitting required documentation, engaging with Licensing staff, and completing an initial on-site inspection. Licensing reviews include an assessment of various factors, such as space feasibility and washroom ratios, to ensure all health and safety requirements are met.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to find a suitable location and complete the necessary steps in order for Fraser Health Licensing to proceed with a full review and determination. Until those requirements are met, Fraser Health cannot issue a licence.”

Money has been set aside to rebuild the burned-down school, but there’s no timeline. As for the lack of daycare spots, the provincial government tells 1130 NewsRadio it sympathizes with parents, encouraging them to go online to find a new place for their children.

Da Cunha says parents feel pushed aside.

“Families are hopeful that a rebuild is happening sooner rather than later. I know the government has said they will be rebuilding but I don’t know when and it would be nice if they could give some more options and information around when that may be happening. It’s shocking that after an incident like this, it hasn’t been made a priority.”

Her daughter says all of this makes her quite sad.

“Somebody was playing with fire… and now my school is just a bunch of rocks lying on the floor.”

Hazel Trembath Elementary burned to the ground in October of 2023. No one has ever been held responsible.