Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Parkcrest Fire

‘Huge anxiety and stress’: Daycare programs forced to relocate due to Parkcrest shuffling

Sep 12, 2019 | 5:24 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Big Little Science Centre isn’t the only organization still in need of a location after the Parkcrest Elementary School fire.

Kamloops-Thompson School District officials have been busy shifting programs to different locations to allow Parkcrest students to use George Hilliard Elementary.

The Four Directions program will be relocated to the former Happyvale school, which previously housed the science centre.

Happyvale is also home to Happy Honeybees Child Care and L’il Scholars Preschool. Between them, the two programs include more than 50 young children.

One of those children is Mackenzi Chenette’s son.

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Chenette says parents were told Tuesday (Sept. 10) that the programs have one month to vacate and find new locations.

She says the change will be extremely stressful for parents and children alike, not to mention the staff of the childcare programs.

“It’s huge anxiety and stress, especially [because] this is a great location for me in regards to my job. It’s only two minutes from my home; I drop my kid off, I come quickly home and I work,” said Chenette, who says she hopes someone will come forward with an appropriate child care facility for the programs.

“[They need to make] sure that he has the proper outdoor area to play in that is safe and that can help get all these little ones’ energy out,” said Chenette. “To have an indoor area that they can run around in, as well is really important.”

The Big Little Science Centre has yet to announce whether it has found a new location.