The parents of more than 200 children in Peterborough must find new childcare options by July 31 after Northview Day Care & Nursery School (“Northview DaySchool”) was given an eviction notice.
On Sunday (April 19), parents and other supporters gathered outside Northview DaySchool at its long-time home in Northview Community Church at 1000 Fairbairn Street to raise awareness and ask the church board for an extended closure timeline.
“We’re not here protesting — we’re bringing awareness,” Tyler George, a Northview DaySchool parent, told kawarthaNOW.
Lease expiration and negotiations break down
In December 2024, the 25-year rental agreement between Northview Church and Northview DaySchool ended. The DaySchool had been in this location for 43 years. Since the lease expired, the church board of directors and the DaySchool leadership have been negotiating new terms.
In a statement to the congregation circulated via email Northview Church cited “significant increase in operating and facility costs” over the term of the lease as the primary reason for the end of tenancy.
The church also spoke to the growing needs of their congregation, saying “We need to steward our facility in a way that best serves that mission.”
However, for parents at Northview DaySchool the primary concern is the lack of communication and reasonable transition planning.
“If the relationship is going to end, then we just need the time to relocate,” said George.
Despite the ongoing negotiations and the lease having been expired since December 2024, the news that no renewal would occur was not shared with parents until April 8. Ultimately, Northview DaySchool parents and staff were provided with less than four months’ notice.
Short notice raises concerns for families
Andrew Davis, parent of two children at Northview DaySchool, said that “the board of directors of the church were well aware of the appropriate transition timeline.”
Typically, licensing a new childcare centre in Ontario takes approximately three to six months. Davis told kawarthaNOW that the ideal transition time for an institution of this size would be approximately one to two years.
Northview DaySchool serves 262 children from six weeks old through elementary school.
George spoke to the importance of the before- and after-school programs and summer camp activities run by the DaySchool, saying that the impact of this closure goes “beyond just childcare.”
For Davis, the communication by the church has provided “no reasonable explanation or timeline.”
At this time, the staff team at Northview DaySchool have indicated they will remain together to ensure continuity of care with the goal of relocating the DaySchool and its operations to a new facility.
Davis spoke highly of the staff at the DaySchool, saying that “every staff member has gone above and beyond what we ever expected.”
Childcare shortages expected to worsen
However, if or until a new facility is secured, families will be forced to place their children on waitlists for existing childcare centres. Parents say there are approximately 800 children on the waitlist for Northview DaySchool, with a further 3,700 children on waitlists across the City of Peterborough.
George expressed concern that the closure of this facility will exacerbate existing problems within the childcare system, as over 200 spaces are being removed from the available market.
“That ripple effect is going to be felt across the city,” said George.
Laura Singh, who has two children attending Northview DaySchool, said she is worried about where she can place her children following the upcoming closure.
“Where will they go?” she asked.
Even a relocation of services causes concern for parents, as the relationship between the congregation, the local community, and DaySchool families is long-held and highly valued by parents.
Furthermore, parents spoke to the quality of resources available at Northview DaySchool and expressed worries that these could be lost.
“In terms of outdoor play space, Northview DaySchool is the nicest daycare in Peterborough,” said Singh.
There will be a period of transition for children currently enrolled in Northview DaySchool, whether they move to a new facility with the DaySchool or if they change to a different institution.
Parents call for ‘child-centred’ transition timeline
Parents spoke to the importance of ensuring that any closure and subsequent transition is done with the best interest of the children at the centre.
“We’re asking for a compassionate extension to the timeline to be able to support our kids,” said George.
Singh said that her priority in petitioning the church board is to direct them towards reconsidering the currently established timeline for transition to better support currently enrolled children and families.
She said that if there must be a closure and transition, then it should be done “safely and in a reasonable timeframe.”
In their April 8 communication, Northview Church stated that they had “worked diligently” in negotiating new terms of tenancy with the DaySchool, but that each of their proposals had been rejected.
However, in an email sent to families and later shared on social media, the DaySchool administration expressed their “surprise” at the delivery of the notice and the timeline provided.
In this letter, Katherina Boshart, executive director of Northview DaySchool, stated that leadership at the DaySchool had requested “at least 1-2 years to transition” but that ultimately “this request was not honoured.”
Parents at the awareness event said that they understand that Northview DaySchool cannot remain at the church indefinitely, but they are asking for more time to find new daycare options for their children.
For Davis, “the conversation has moved passed staying here,” saying that parents recognize that “the church has a plan and a vision and that’s not up to us.”
The awareness event on April 19 was well attended by parents and local community members. It also drew the support and attention of Andrew Beamer, city councillor for Northcrest Ward, and Matt Crowley, city councillor for Monaghan Ward, as the DaySchool sits close to the ward boundary line.
Parents of Northview DaySchool students have also established an online petition addressing the Northview Church board of directors and asking them to reconsider the July 31 deadline and grant an extension until next February. To date, there are over 1,000 signatures in support of DaySchool parents.
“We are asking for enough time to ensure a safe, orderly, and child-centred transition,” the petition reads.
Singh, George, and Davis all expressed their gratitude for the support parents have received from members of the community and the Northview Church congregation. George said that many congregation members had attended the event to support and share their memories of the DaySchool.
