From Edmonton Journal – March 2, 2009

The University of Alberta has signed an agreement with a national,
private child-care company that could open hundreds of new day-care
spaces for the children of university staff.

But the move has
blindsided five non-profit child-care centres already affiliated with
the university who fear the deal could jeopardize their futures.

Kids
& Company, an Ontario-based care provider with partnerships with
universities and companies across the country, will open a flagship
centre with 140 spaces in the Icon building downtown this April. The
university has paid the company $5,000 to ensure university staff
receive priority for those spots. There are currently 600 children of
staff and students on child-care waiting lists at the university.

Kids
& Company has guaranteed it will find places within six months for
any staff member who registers with them, said Chris Cheeseman,
vice-provost and associate vice-president of human resource services at
the university. "We felt this was an additional option for our staff
and it would help ease the pressure on other facilities and increase
choices," he said.

The agreement with Kids & Company will not
affect the five non-profit centres that receive university support, he
said. They include the Garneau/University Child Care Centre, the
University Infant and Toddler Centre, and the University Early Learning
Centre.

More on the story can be found here

Previous blog posts on Kids & Co can be found here and here.