Atira to close 3 Early Care and Learning Centres

Atira Women’s Resource Centre has announced that it will be closing three of its Early Care and Learning Centres.

Willow and River Run, in Richmond, and Seksik in Vancouver will all be shutting their doors.

Atira has served notice to the City of Richmond and to Affordable Housing Society, the partner in Seksik.

In a press release, Atira states that they did not take this decision lightly and know that these centres have been critical to families in the areas affected.

Willow and River Run were both purpose-built childcare centres and Seksik was a location renovated for the purpose of meeting the needs of the community.

“We want to acknowledge both partners for their leadership and ongoing commitment to care in their communities, and we are confident that commitment will continue,” said the press release.

The release goes on to explain the closures as part of a “structural challenge within the childcare system.”

Atira asserts that the challenge is with the current provincial funding model and that it does not reflect the true costs of delivering “high-quality, non-profit childcare within a unionized environment.”

In the release, Atira states that what the province pays in a standardized “assumption” does not align with the costs required to meet collective agreements, including compensation, benefits, paid leave, and the staffing levels needed to meet licensing and quality standards.

Atira has been operating in a deficit to maintain services for families and meet commitments to staff. It also attempted to take part in the $10-a-day childcare program, but the pause on new enrolment brings a new challenge.

“Without a funding model that reflects the true cost of care, affordability and sustainability cannot be achieved at the same time,” stated the release.

Despite attempts to discuss the issues with both the government and union partners, they have not resulted in the changes needed to ensure long-term viability.

“We also made a clear commitment not to pass these costs on to families through increased parent fees, as doing so would undermine the very purpose of accessible child care.”

Atira states that it is not the only non-profit to face operating cost issues.

“Across the sector, organizations have been raising concerns about the misalignment between public funding and the true cost of delivering quality care. When funding does not keep pace, providers are left with limited options: carry unsustainable deficits, increase fees, or step away from service delivery.”

Atira is now focusing on supporting the closing programs through the transition to closures and working to find a way to bridge the gap in funding.