Daycare committee taking wait-and-see approach

The old pharmacy building on main street may be the home of a new daycare operation in Viking. The building has been purchased recently and the Town of Viking’s daycare committee is waiting to see if this business venture proceeds, states town economic development officer Doug Lefsrud.

With research indicating a definite need for daycare services in Viking, a committee formed for that reason is waiting to see if a private developer is stepping forward to fill the gap.

Viking Council formed a daycare advisory committee last January composed of councillors Judy Acres, Debbie O’Toole-Balaban, and Laurel Weisgerber (acting chair).

Since then, the committee has conducted a survey and held a fundraising Mother’s Day breakfast this past spring.

And, although the survey results indicate that there is a need for daycare, the committee is not proceeding pending the outcome of a private initiative on that front.

The survey questions started by asking if there were concerns about the availability of childcare currently or in the future, and out of 62 responses 56 said there were (92.32 per cent).

Survey respondents were asked to state how many children and their ages require childcare, and 59 out of 65 answered. These statistics were not available.

When asked how often childcare is required, 57 out of 65 replied with 18 (31.58 per cent) saying full time (5 days a week); 27 (47.37 per cent) stating part time (2-4 times per week); 4 (7.02 per cent) stating before and after school, and on holidays; and 8 (14.04 per cent) stating childcare was needed occasionally.

Read MORE in the latest edition of The Weekly Review – available on newsstands now, or buy the single issue online right now!

Never miss an issue – become a subscriber today! Click here!

Studies prove, Community Newspapers are still the most effective medium for getting a message out there in towns and villages across the prairies. Attract LOCAL customers by supporting LOCAL media. ADVERTISE!

ads@weeklyreview.ca

Patricia Harcourt
Editor