Day Care Facilities

The Municipality of Sioux Lookout operates three (3) licensed Day Care Centres: The Norah Love Children's Centre, the Biidaaban Children's Centre and the Sioux Mountain Children's Centre. All of the Centres are non-profit Integrated Centres that are funded by both the Provincial Government and at the Municipal level. In January 2000, the Kenora District Services Board became the Manager for all child care facilities, although licensing of these facilities is still the responsibility of the Ministry of Community & Social Services.

The Centres are open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. They are closed on statutory holidays as set out in the Union Contract and are also closed for a two (2) week period over Christmas.

Norah Love Children's Centre

54 Princess Street, Sioux Lookout, Ontario

The Norah Love Children's Centre has been in operation since September 1983. This Centre is licenced to accommodate forty-two (42) children between the ages of eighteen (18) months and five (5) years.

The children are divided into the following groups:

10 children - age 18 to 30 months - ratio 1:5;
16 children - age 30 months to 3.5 years - ratio 1:8; and
16 children - age 3.5 to 5 years - ratio 1:8.

For the past three (3) years the Centre has been running at full capacity with waiting lists.

Staffing

Full-time staff includes the following:

1 Day Care Manager (Non-Union) (for 3 Centres),
6 Early Childhood Educators (Union),
1 Resource Teacher (Union) (shared by both Centres),
1 Secretary (Union) (shared by both Centres - 7½ hours per week),
1 Cook (Union) (30 hours per week).

This level of staffing is maintained to ensure Provincial Guidelines for ratios are adhered to.

Part-time staff include the following:

1 Housekeeper (Non-Union) (10 hours per week),
1 Caretaker (Non-Union) (11 hours per week),
1 Classroom Assistant (Non-Union) (24 hours per week), and
Supply Teachers (Union) (as required).

The Norah Love Children's Centre also has volunteers, high school co-op students and E. C. E. placement students on a regular basis.

Other Services Offered

a drop-in service for out-of-town people
lunch program,
socialization/enrichment spaces, and
specialized services upon parents request such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech/Language services.

Biidaaban Children's Centre

41 8th Avenue, Sioux Lookout, Ontario

The Biidaaban Children's Centre opened its doors in September 1994 at the same time the new Sacred Heart School opened. The name "Biidaaban" is an Ojicree word meaning "New Beginning". Biidaaban is a school-based Day Care that is licensed for thirty-seven (37) children. It accommodates children who are 3.8 years to 9 years of age.

The children are divided into the following groups:

JK Group - 10 children - age 3.8 to 4 years - ratio 1:10;
SK Group - 12 children - age 5 and 6 years - ratio 1:12; and
After School Group - 15 children - age 6 to 9 years - ratio 1:15.

Scheduling for these programs is very difficult because Central School offers full alternating days for JK and SK while Sacred Heart offers a half day everyday program. The Day Care must try and schedule the children from both schools in such a way that the maximum amount is accommodated.

Currently the Centre is operating at capacity with waiting lists for all programs.

Staffing

Full-time staff includes the following:

1 Assistant Day Care Manager (non-union),
3 Early Childhood Educators (union) (1 for each group),
1 Resource Teacher (union) (shared by both Centres),
1 Secretary (union) (shared by both Centres - 7½ hours per week), and
1 Cook (union) (30 hours per week).

Part-time staff include the following:

1 Caretaker (non-union) (10 hours per week), and
Supply Teachers (union) (as required).

The Biidaaban Children's Centre also has volunteers, high school co-op students and E. C. E. placement students on a regular basis.

Other Services Offered

a drop-in service for out-of-town people
lunch program,
socialization/enrichment spaces, and
specialized services upon parents request such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech/Language services.

Fee Schedule

Please contact the Centres for current fee schedule.

Subsidized spaces are also available.

Additional fees will be charged for late pick-ups of children. A fee of $2.00 per child will be charged for every minute a parent is late past closing time.

Day Care Advisory Committee

There is one (1) Advisory Committee in place for all Centres. The make-up of the Committee is as follows: Sacred Heart Principal, Parents, and Interested Community Members.

The Advisory Committee makes recommendations to Council on items such as fees, staffing, Committee appointments, etc.

For further information about the Municipal Child Care Facilities including current fees, waiting lists, subsidy eligibility, guidance techniques, admission criteria, etc. contact:

Kelly Negus, Day Care Manager, Norah Love Children's Centre:

54 Princess Street,Sioux Lookout, Ontario P8T 1H4
(807) 737-2131 (phone); (807) 737-2798 (fax)
knegus@siouxlookout.ca (e-mail address)

Gisele Trudeau, Assistant Day Care Manager, Biidaaban Children's Centre:

41 8th Avenue, Box 567,Sioux Lookout, Ontario P8T 1A8
(807) 737-4570 (phone); (807) 737-4324 (fax)
gtrudeau@siouxlookout.ca (e-mail address)

Kelly Negus, Day Care Manager, Sioux Mountain Children's Centre:

89 First Avenue, P.O. Box 7, Sioux Lookout, Ontario P8T 1A1
(807) 737-2055 (phone); (807) 737-2961 (fax)
smcc@bellnet.ca (email address)

Frequently Asked Questions and Responses:

What ages of children do you take at your Centres?

Norah Love Children's Centre
Ten (10) toddlers - 18 months to 36 months
Thirty-two (32) preschoolers - 36 months to 4 years

Biidaaban Children's Centre
Ten (10) Junior Kindergarten children - 3.8 years to 4 years
Twelve (12) Senior Kindergarten children - 5 years
Fifteen (15) school-age children – 6 years to 10 years

Best Start - Sioux Mountain Children's Centre
Ten (10) Junior Kindergarten children - 3.8 years to 4 years
Ten (10) Senior Kindergarten children – 5 years Fifteen (15) school-age children - 6 years to 10 years (during the school year only)
What are the hours of operation?

All Centres operate from 7:30 a. m. to 5:30 p. m.
What days are the Centres closed during the year?

All Centres are closed for a two (2) week period at Christmas and for the following statutory holidays:
- New Year's Day,
- Family Day
- Good Friday,
- Easter Monday,
- Victoria Day,
- Canada Day,
- Civic Holiday,
- Labour Day,
- Thanksgiving Day, and
- Remembrance Day.
The Centres do remain open during the summer, on all school professional development days, and March Break.

What is your current fee schedule?

As of January 1, 2010, the fee schedule for all Centres will be as follows:

NLCC/BCC/ BEST START - SMCC	FEES
PROGRAM	FULL DAY	HALF DAY	BEFORE SCHOOL	LUNCH	AFTER SCHOOL
Toddler	$37.00	$25.00	--	--	--
Preschool	$34.00	$25.00	--	--	--
School Age	$34.00	$25.00	$8.00	$10.00	$10.00

Fees are normally increased once or twice a year based on a recommendation of the Day Care Advisory Committee and approval by Municipal Council.

Do you allow absent days for children when they are away for vacation or sick time?

There are no allowable absent days for fee paying parents. When parents are given confirmation that a full time space is available for their child, then they are responsible for paying for that space, regardless of vacation and sick days. This guarantees revenue for the Municipality and keeps costs down to a minimum.

The Kenora District Services Board does allow three (3) absent days per month for those parents who receive subsidized Day Care. Should a child be absent four (4) days within a month, then the subsidized parent is responsible for paying for Day Care that day.
What are the child to staff ratios?

The child to staff ratios change depends on the ages of the children. They are as follows:
- Toddlers ratios are 5:1
- Preschoolers ratios are 8:1
- JK ratios are 10:1
- SK ratios are 12:1
- School age ratios are 15:1
What is your policy in regards to outdoor play?

Day Nursery Legislation states that children attending a licensed Day Nursery are required to have two (2) hours of outdoor play per day. Staff members do take the children outside two (2) or three (3) times per day, weather permitting.

Municipality of Sioux Lookout

The Hub of the North