Halifax daycare closing, families urgently seeking alternatives

Families in Halifax, Nova Scotia, are facing an urgent crisis as the Children's Garden Day Care announced it will close at the end of April. The center, which is licensed for 80 children, informed parents on Monday that they need to find new childcare options quickly. The closure was unexpected for many families. Brittany Naugler, whose two-year-old daughter attends the daycare, spent over 17 months on waitlists to get a spot. She expressed her panic and fear about potentially losing her job if she cannot find alternative childcare. Many parents feel shocked and hopeless about the situation. Children's Garden's co-owners, Adnan Masad and Enas Jawad, stated that they could only recently inform families about the closure due to the lease expiring. The landlord decided not to renew the lease as they plan to redevelop the property. The new owners took over just a few weeks ago and have assured families they are working on alternative arrangements. Lina Hamid, a local Member of the Legislative Assembly, noted that losing daycare spaces is a significant loss for families, especially given the current shortage of availability in the area. Parents have reported that they are struggling to secure new spots at other daycare centers, many of which are already full. The owners of Children's Garden plan to open a new location and will provide updates soon. However, parents remain worried and frustrated as they continue their search for childcare before the end of the month.