Yellowknife parent shocked by day-care investigation
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | 9:28 AM CT
CBC News
A Yellowknife resident says he was shocked to learn his sons' day-care centre had its licence suspended over an alleged "child protection issue" that RCMP are investigating.
Ron Lafond, whose four-year-old twin boys attended Edutec Education Centre's Montessori program, said he was among a number of parents police had interviewed.
"We really enjoyed our boys going there," Lafond told CBC News on Wednesday. "Very affordable and good program, good staff. So it was really hard to believe anything bad was going on."
The Northwest Territories' Education Department confirmed Tuesday that Edutec was temporarily suspended because of suspicion of a health and safety violation under the territory's Child Day Care Act.
Education officials would not say how long the suspension will be in effect, nor give any specifics of the alleged violation.
Yellowknife RCMP would not provide details on Wednesday of their investigation. A police spokeswoman asked the public and media to be patient as the investigation continues.
On Tuesday, Sgt. Andy Ing told CBC News that police are investigating an alleged child protection issue connected to the centre. In a release issued that day, RCMP said they received information "concerning child protection issues from the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and Department of Health and Social Services."
Lafond said police told him and his wife that their investigation stemmed from something said by a child who attended the centre.
Edutec operates a private Montessori program at its centre, which is a government-licensed day-care facility. Open since January, the centre served children aged two to six. Its licence allowed for up to 30 students.
The Edutec program is not related to the Montessori kindergarten program offered through the Yellowknife Education District No. 1, nor to the N.W.T. Montessori Society and the Yellowknife Montessori School.
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