We want to share with our currently enrolled families and all families joining BGC St. Alban’s Preschool this fall, important information regarding the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program System (“CWELCC”).
Since the announcement was made this spring that Ontario was to be included into the CWELCC System, we have spent time collecting and reviewing all available information with the BGC St. Alban’s Board of Directors.
We would like to inform you that we will be applying for enrolment into the CWELCC System for 2023, though we will have to make some changes to some of our policies upon our acceptance into the program (ie. The Vacation Policy will be rescinded).
Although we still do have many unanswered questions, we would like to also take 2023 to give families the fee respite as we continue to review the benefits and impacts of CWELCC on our financial viability, retention of quality child care staff, and our outstanding program quality that we and our community have built over the last 30 + years. We will opt out of the program if we conclude that the CWELCC negatively impacts our program.
We elected to opt out of 2022, because there were many uncertainties and we were not confident enough to make an informed decision before the required date, even with the extension. For example, information about 2022 CWEECC will be available in early November after the extended November 1st deadline.
Once our application has been reviewed and hopefully approved soon after, information about next steps will be communicated to us and we, in turn, will share it with you later this year. With the very recent pushback of the application deadline, it is unclear as to when we will hear back about the status of our application.
We realize that this has been top-of-mind for many, especially for families with young children already enrolled or joining our Centre in the new year. Thank you for your patience while awaiting updates about BGC St. Alban’s decision regarding our enrolment into CWELCC. As you are aware, this new system prompted many questions, our attendance of several webinar/information sessions, discussions with our community partners and a thorough review of information, as it flowed to us through all levels of government linked to CWELCC.
The federal government’s funding envelope (CWELCC) will support Centres across Canada refunding eligible families, dollar for dollar. We expect for this funding to continue in 2023. Changes to our fees and invoicing will be issued to BGC St. Alban’s Preschool’s eligible families once the funding is secured and in accordance CWELCC guidelines. A date cannot be confirmed at this time, though we expect to begin on January 2nd 2023 (future program fees).
The Board of Directors and Executive Director, Chris Foster recognizes that the rollout of CWELCC is fluid and anticipates additional information and changes in the near future. Collection and review of information as it becomes available in the coming months will continue, as it is imperative to understand implications of BGC St. Alban’s Preschools enrolment in CWELCC past December 31, 2023.
Once again thank you for your patience and understanding over the last few months, as we carefully analyzed and discussed the CWELCC System and application process.
If you have any questions regarding our application process, please contact us and we will endeavour to answer them to the best of our ability.
Chris Foster
Executive Director
chris@stalbansclub.ca
Karen Grant
Preschool Manager
karen@stalbansclub.ca