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Fraser Health probed 10 Tri-City childcare centres last fall

Ten licensed childcare centres in the Tri-Cities were investigated last fall by Fraser Health, including a Coquitlam facility where two children wandered away twice in the same week.
parkland
Parkland Players

Ten licensed childcare centres in the Tri-Cities were investigated last fall by Fraser Health, including a Coquitlam facility where two children wandered away in the same week.

According to the latest report of complaint findings — issued by the regional health authority in February — Parkland Players was asked to submit a corrective action plan after a child in its care left the group at its Regan Avenue facility Sept. 11, 2018 and was found by a member of the public nearby.

Fraser Health logged a similar complaint three days later when another Parkland Players child went missing and the matter wasn’t reported, as is required.

Owner Shohreh Mansourian told The Tri-City News today (Wednesday) both incidents were “unfortunate” and were addressed immediately; two employees were also fired for failing to disclose the second event, she said.

“It was the first time in our 25-year history this has happened,” she said of the missing children. “This is very upsetting as we have a good reputation and we take pride in our business.”

Last month, the private company — which oversees about 30 children and has nine employees — was ordered to provide an additional safety plan after a number of violations were discovered during two routine, unscheduled inspections of the premises.

The violations included: three open electrical outlets in the group childcare room; exposed drywall in the preschool rooms; and access to hazardous cleaning supplies under the bathroom sink. As well, Parkland Players didn’t have criminal record check documentation for two staff.

The Fraser Health complaints summary, which can be viewed online, points to nine other licensed childcare facilities in the Tri-Cities with contraventions last fall (they have since been addressed and no further action was required). They are:

• Heritage Mountain Daycare (145 Ravine Dr, Port Moody): Care was provided to children who didn’t meet the age requirement of the program.

• Kiddies Korner Preschool (2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam): Child wasn’t redirected from drinking water from a gutter downspout while playing outside.

• Kids & Company (220 Brew St., Port Moody): Staff shook cribs during nap time contrary to facility policy and there was an inappropriate staff-to-child ratio. 

• Kinder Joy Daycare (406 Glencoe Dr., Port Moody): A child was restrained to manage behaviour.

• Ladybird Montessori Learning Academy (2-3 1180 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam): Inappropriate staffing qualifications.

• Little Dolphins Daycare (1282 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam): Unavailable records.

• Little Treasures Daycare (450 Blue Mountain St., Coquitlam): Inappropriate guidance and discipline by a staff member.

• Moonlight Day Care (2292 Warrenton Ave., Coquitlam): Inappropriate guidance and discipline.

• School of Early Learning (103-3200 Westwood St., Port Coquitlam): A child was physically restrained for discipline, and Fraser Health wasn’t notified about the action.

Under the provincial Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Fraser Health is required to investigate all complaints against licensed and unlicensed childcare facilities.

Concerns or complaints can be made by anyone to the Community Care Facilities Licensing program on allegations that include: abuse; non-compliance with licensing regulations; and care and supervision provided.