Like many organizations, Vanier Co-operative Childcare Centre was significantly impacted by the Ministry of Education & OCSB decision to close all its school buildings during COVID-19 Pandemic declaration for March 15-June 26, 2020.  Vanier Co-operative’s Childcare centre  CLOSED services until June 26, 2020.

Vanier Co-operative’s Board of Directors responded to the mandatory closure of schools and licensed childcare centres by the Ministry of Education due to the corona virus pandemic.  Since June 12, 2020,  provincial Guidelines for Reopening the Economy, City of Ottawa Public Health Reopening Child Care during COVID-19 Pandemic Plan, Children’s Services and O.C.S.B. mandated that Vanier Co-operative attest to the preparations that all staff received Health & Safety training, enhanced deep cleaning schedules and practices are in place, OPH signage are visible and all existing families pre-COVID-19 enrollment were surveyed for reserved childcare to be reinstated.

Vanier Co-operative Childcare Centre reopened its childcare services as of Monday June 29, 2020 and from an evolving duration of multiple Phases II-VIII, families in need of childcare services were served respecting the various restrictions from a maximum cohort size of ten children per cohort group; July 27-September 2020 Phase III expanded cohort sizes from ten to fifteen children[ September 1, 2020, Phase IV – VIII extended the cohort sizes to match licensing capacity; to PPE requirements; maintaining enhanced cleaning & sanitation; illness exclusions and increased physical distancing strategies in practice continue as the centre moved forward in Fall 2022.

As a smaller, micro business, the safety and well-being of Vanier Co-operative’s children, families, and staff membership is our top priority.  Diligence, commitment and apprised on the ever-evolving nature of COVID-19 and its community transmission narrative is critical in day-to-day operations in childcare.  Every members will be conscientious and vigilant in how they perform during their work day to diminish potential spread of the ongoing COVID realities.

As an organization, Vanier Co-operative staff will face mask when there are heightened personal symptoms or individual cases within program of typical seasonal illness.  To improve overall health precaution with increased enhanced cleaning practices, the objective is to prevent the spread of typical seasonal illness while communicating health alerts to assist the majority of enrolled population at the centre.

Vanier Co-operative is guided by public awareness bulletins from Ottawa Public Health to best serve young children who may be more susceptible to illness with growing immunity systems under development and for those who remain unvaccinated for more serious virus.  In a group care setting, outbreaks can unfold and this reality demands that best practices are employed to prevent further spread to programs and centre-based care facilities.  Although improving, the childcare sector workforce occasionally  eperiences workplace shortages during pronounced outbreaks.