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Low enrolment threatens existence of French daycare and pre-school

The city’s only francophone daycare and pre-school is in danger of having to close its doors

The city’s only francophone daycare and pre-school is in danger of having to close its doors.

Mimosa Palmberg, president of the not-for-profit society that runs Les Petits Explorateur de Mer-et-Montagne, says the program may come to an end in the new year if there are no more new enrolments.

“We are currently struggling to meet our minimum enrolment requirements of eight children per day,” Palmberg says.

“This not-for-profit school was founded by parents looking for opportunities for their little ones to listen, learn and play in French.”

The daycare/pre-school is located inside the francophone École Mer-et-Montagne and is for children aged 30 months to five years.

The program started in September 2013 as a way to not only provide care for children, but to offer exposure to the French language and French education system to help prepare children for the possibility of a francophone education, Palmberg says.

The daycare/pre-school is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anyone interested in enroling their children at Les Petits Explorateur de Mer-et-Montagne is asked to contact Audrey Bilous at 778-418-1820.

Children must meet the eligibility requirements set by the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Columbie-Britannique (www.csf.bc.ca/parents-eleves/admission-et-inscription/#eng).

Those who meet the requirements but do not plan to send children to the francophone school program are still invited to use the preschool and/or daycare service.