Some local day camps open as parents look for childcare amid school closures

HALIFAX – After the government announcement Nova Scotia public schools would close Monday amid what the government calls safety concerns during a teachers’ work-to-rule, a few area day camps have opened to offer childcare for parents.

The Canada Games Centre announced Saturday that it will be offering camps for children in Primary to Grade 6 for the week starting Tuesday until Dec. 9, but if closures go beyond a week, the centre will look to add additional camps.

The cost is $35 per day for each child and the centre said on its website it “will do our best to accommodate as many children as possible” but that will be contingent on staff availability and space.

The Dartmouth Sportsplex is also scheduled to run a day camp Monday, while Needham Recreation Centre in Halifax’s north-end is also offering a day camp for Monday for children aged five to 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Bricks 4 Kidz Halifax still has a few spots open for their day camps on Monday and Tuesday.

Ads offering child care services on Kijiji also exploded after the government’s announcement Saturday, with many offering services during the closure of schools.

About two dozen ads were posted on the site within four hours of the government announcement.

Both HRM and the province have previously said the possibility of opening day camps in the event of a teachers’ strike was being explored, but no announcements have said whether a decision has been made regarding the current situation set to take effect Monday.

The government has said parents can keep up to date on the province’s website, the union is directing parents to their website for any potential updates on job actions, while Halifax Regional School Board is directing to their page for the latest news for parents as well.

The McNeil government has reconvened the legislature for 10 a.m. Monday to table begin to table legislation that the government said in release would “get students back to school as quickly as possible.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today