Coronavirus puts Catholic daycare opening in question

The planned April 1 opening of a new daycare at St. Ann’s Parish in Abbotsford is up in the air as daycares across the country close in response to the coronavirus.

Although B.C. daycares remain open, Premier John Horgan has signalled that could change.

“At this time, childcare will remain available,” he said this week. “A parent should take comfort in that, but it is an evolving situation and should the public health officials give us different directions, we’ll be taking different actions.”

 That uncertainty now has Sister Suzana Tairo wondering what will happen with the St. Ann’s Childcare Centre that has been in the works for years, spearheaded by the Carmelite Missionary Sister of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

A month ago, the opening seemed certain. Sister Tairo joined dozens of parishioners for a blessing by Archbishop J. Michael Miller and was excited to see everything coming to fruition after years of planning and hard work by numerous volunteers.

“I was very emotional that day. I couldn’t believe we were actually there. It was almost impossible to believe,” she told The B.C. Catholic.

She recognizes the difficult position the government is in. “It is hard to make a decision,” she said. “We will wait to hear what the government authorities say. We have to align with the instructions.”

Although they may need to wait a while longer, the journey to open the facility has been a long one and involved Sister Tairo’s own return to school.

Originally from Tanzania, Sister Tairo took her vows in 2004 and was sent to Canada in 2005. She began in Toronto where she worked at a daycare serving the Catholic community. In 2016, she arrived at St. Ann’s where, in addition to her work at local Catholic schools, she began looking for ways to help the young families of St. Ann’s.

“I created a group called Moms and Tots. We are blessed with a community that has very young families and I was always looking for ways we can help.”

She noticed that several rooms at St. Ann’s were not being used. At the same time, she was talking to the mothers in the Moms and Tots group about what they needed.

“I came to realize there is a need for a daycare where the moms can feel safe enough to leave their children and go back to work,” Sister Tairo said.

However, to make her dream a reality she knew she would have to go to school and get her ECE certification. 

“I was kind of forced to learn it online,” she said about the two-year program.

“It was really challenging,” she said, noting there was a three-hour time difference between the school and her home. “I was trying to work ahead so I was not behind. It was not easy. But I am glad that I was able to complete it and have my ECE qualifications.”

During her studies, Sister Tairo connected with a local daycare manager, Dana Kayser, a Christian who operates Eco Kids daycare in Abbotsford, where she was welcomed to do her practicums. “When I had a question, I went to her and asked her.” 

Sister Tairo said Kayser also offered assistance in completing the application for government funding for the St. Ann’s facility.

“But we are not even there yet,” she explained. “It is a complicated process. With this coronavirus, we are not sure what is going to happen.”

Sister Tairo also created a committee to help move the project forward. Together, they got the government licensing required to open the daycare. 

During the process, they conducted a survey to see if there was a need for daycare in the area.

“The results were positive. Eighty-nine percent of people showed an interest for a daycare in the parish. That even motivated me more.”

Jody Garneau, who works at the parish, has been impressed by the sister’s efforts. 

“It was her vision to say, ‘You know what, this is something I can do to have a role here in the parish.’ She has pursued it all the way.

“She was so determined. It was really lovely,” Garneau said. “I am in awe of her determination.”  

Sister Tairo said she never felt she was on her own during the journey.

“A lot of people worked with me. I was not alone. I felt very supported through the whole process,” she said. “I was very happy to see how many people showed up and helped.”

Two staff members have been hired to work in the daycare and Sister Tairo is already dreaming of what the future could bring, including before- and after-school care or a full-time preschool program. 

“Until you start something you do not know what is the need out there.”

“Life is like a seed,” she said. “You never see that potential until the seed is really buried underground. At the end of the day, you are that seed. You are the one carrying that potential. You can make it grow or kill it. I have experienced that and learned to be open.”

The St. Ann’s Childcare Centre will have capacity for 16 children between 18 and 36 months.