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Updated – Two Kamloops day cares relocating to Kamloops Christian School after Parkcrest fire

Victor Kaisar
Sep 13, 2019 | 2:24 PM


Updated - Two Kamloops day cares relocating to Kamloops Christian School after Parkcrest fire
Update –Two Kamloops day cares that had to move out of Happyvale Elementary in the aftermath of the Parkcrest Elementary school fire last week have found a new home at Kamloops Christian School (KCS).

L’il Scholars and Happy Honeybees Childcare both had about a month to move out of the space to make room for Four Directions students, who are relocating from George Hilliard Elementary, which will now house Parkcrest students.

The two day cares will rent a few rooms at KCS to house the combined 53 children enrolled in their programs. Prior to their move, the spaces will still need to be inspected by Interior Health to make sure it’s suitable for a day care.

“We have to make sure we have the proper safety and transportation policies,” said Jessica Keith, who runs Happy Honeybees. “We have to put in our application. I’ve been in contact with Interior Health and they know our situation and they said they will do what they can to fast track it to the best of the abilities.”

Original –
The owner of a daycare that will have to move in the aftermath of the Parkcrest Elementary Fire says finding a new space is challenging.

Jessica Keith runs Happy Honeybees Childcare, currently located at Happyvale Elementary, and says they’ve been given about a month to find a new space.

“Still trying to find something that is closer to the area that we are currently in, that would have access to a playground or a field area and from where that would be close again for parents,” she said. “So there’s a lot of factors and again with the short timeline that we have, it’s been a struggle to find something that will work.”

Even if she’s unable to find a space in a month, Keith says she has no plans to close her doors.

“We will do whatever we can to continue to operate. We haven’t had to ask for an extension yet as I have just started looking for space on my own in the last couple of days,” Keith added. “I do plan on giving it a little bit more time, hopefully something will come up and I won’t even have to worry about the alternative.”

She’s not sure if the move from Happyvale Elementary will be permanent or temporary, but notes a school building is an ideal location for them to be in.

“We’ve got child sized bathrooms. We’ve got the playground available. We’ve got an indoor play space,” Keith said. “So if down the road they have space become available, we would love to be back in a school building on school property would be the best case scenario.”

Keith says she’s hoping to find a space that’s close to their current location in Brock. She noted she has seen one place that could work but is open to other options.

Along with Happy Honeybees Childcare, Happyvale Elementary is also home to L’il Scholars Preschool, with a combined 53 children between the two. Both are being relocated to house the students from the Four Directions Secondary School who will be moving to Happyvale, as a result of Parkcrest students moving to George Hilliard Elementary.