Lyles

Morning all fellow patient folk!!!

What a glorious day in London. Wow! Makes me nostalgic for Calgary!

Aaaaanyway! Does anyone know if there is a child day-care/nursery shortage in Calgary? I have a toddler myself who will probably attend one when we land. My eldest son attended a FANTASTIC day-care facility when we stayed in Airdrie for two months. Puts the ones in the UK to shame, or at least the ones I've visited! Horrendous! Makes my shudder!!!

I've been considering starting a nursery up in the UK for years, but because staying in the UK does not fit into my long term plans, its probably wiser not to. Just wondering if there is a market for it over in Calgary.

I know it won't be as desperate a situation as in the UK, or at least London where you have to put your foetus on the waiting list!!

Any tips, experience and advice appreciated.


Cheers,
Leila

Judy in Calgary

Hello Leila,

My own kids are young adults now, so it's not an issue to which I pay attention on a day-to-day basis. However, from anecdotal accounts I hear in passing conversation, I gather parents find it a challenge to locate good quality child care.

The federal government has just introduced its 2005 budget. It included $5 billion that supposedly was going to be spent for the development of a new early learning and child care initiative across the country over the next five years.

I don't know what that means in practice. The 2005 budget as a whole has been criticised because it promises a lot over five years but in reality will dole out only a little in the first couple of years. I don't know if that limitation also applies to the child care initiative. I rather suspect it does.

Anyway, I've gone off at a tangent. You asked if there was a market for child care in Calgary. As I said, while I haven't arrived at my opinion methodically, casual conversation suggests that there is a market.

Glaswegian

Yes there is a market for childcare services in Calgary. As in every business area you get what you pay for. This means the range is from dayhomes (look after children in your own home) to daycare (nursery or before and after school care in what you would understand to be a nursery school). There is also a demand for pre-school - ranging from a few hours per week to socialise a child right up to 5 days per week to educate a child before they go to school. Fees vary enormously.

The easiest/cheapest way to break into the market is probably a dayhome although I hear there is not a great deal of money to be made in this and the hours are long. You would obviously need to research your area carefully. In some areas there is a general perception of the 'best' pre-school and these obviously fill up rapidly - sometimes before even opening applications to the public!

Good luck with it.

Mrs G

ella69

There is certainly a shortage of nurseries especiallly the North west area of Calgary. I have two very young children and it was extremely difficult finding a nursery for both of them, The university of Calgary nursery is supposedly one of the best. it costs 1000 dollars or more depending on the age. There is a two year waitng list, yes a two year waiting list, then there is Briar Hill child center also 13mths waiting list, I was thinking of opening one in the North west but the properties there are a killer
Even there are shortages for home daycare centers
I would say there a market for childcare