Post-secondary parents have limited childcare options over spring break

By DANIEL BUMANGLAG

Students who are parents face unique challenges in securing childcare over spring break, but camps can be an advantageous option. 

Michael Murray works at Southlands Heritage Farm, which offers two spring break camps for school-age children. Murray said their camp brings out personality.  

“I have seen some difference in some of the kids that come that would be a bit introverted and shy, and then within the next two or three weeks they’d have really opened up and they’ve met a lot of friends here,” said Murray. 

A difficult balancing act

Kimme Russell is a single mother of four. She will be finishing her Bachelor’s degree in education in 2026 at Vancouver Island University. Russell said she thought about sending her children to spring break camps. 

“They’re expensive and they fill up really fast. So, it’s just hard to get in. But also, it’s a big expense when you’re a single mom,” Russell said.  

Russell is an interior designer and photographer. She offers those services to friends in exchange for childcare.  

Tomilola Fadeyi Donkor is a mom of three and a full-time counselling psychology masters student at Athabasca University. Most of her classes are online. 

Donkor and other moms take turns hosting play dates for each other’s children over spring break, and she has help from her family. She said affordable childcare is needed for working mothers. 

“I think we’d be celebrating if it was affordable for a lot of us that have to work,” Donkor said. 

Limited spots available

Katy Finlay is the owner and founder of Vancouver Performing Stars, which offers a spring break camp. Finlay said she feels like their camp is affordably priced as compared to other camps. 

“We do everything we can to keep it affordable for families, but we also have to pay our instructors and our space rental,” Finlay said.  

Finlay said they also assist families who may need a “little extra help” with the cost.   

Mike Starchuk works at Tomorrow’s Top Kids Childcare Society. Their camp offers an $80 monthly fee for parents whose children are part of their full-time out of school care program, and costs $225 per week otherwise.  

Starchuk said securing a spot in their camp can be difficult.  

“It just depends on how prepared parents are in trying to find the programs that are out there, and just being on the ball,” Starchuk said. 

Calls for action

Sharon Gregson is the spokesperson at the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C.  

Gregson doesn’t think that childcare is accessible during school breaks. 

She said she thinks that parents should send an email to their local member of the legislative assembly, or their local federal member of Parliament to say that “childcare is a problem” for them. 

“We really need more political will to solve this problem,” said Gregson.