Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday, except holidays* and closure times**
Normal hours of operation are 8:15 am to 5:15 pm. Opening and closing hours are firm with no children able to start earlier or stay later at Fernie Kids unless previously arranged.
* STATUATORY HOLIDAY and RELATED CLOSURES:
- New Years Day (Jan)
- Family Day (Feb)
- Easter Good Friday (Mar/Apr)
- Easter Monday (Mar/April)
- Victoria Day (May)
- Canada Day (July)
- BC Day (August)
- Labour Day (Sept)
- National Day of Reconciliation (Sept)
- Thanksgiving Day (Oct)
- Remembrance Day (Nov)
- Christmas Day (Dec)
- Boxing Day (Dec)
- 5 other days or a week together
In the event that a statutory holiday falls on a weekend, Fernie Kids will be closed the following Monday.
** During the calendar year Fernie Kids has three closure times and 5 other days throughout the year:
- first week occurs in late April/early May in order that I may attend the Early Childhood Educators of BC annual conference in Vancouver. This may be shortened to just 2-3 business days depending on the dates of the conference. This time may also encompass the time needed to move my daughter’s from their university residences (cancelled for April/May 2020)
- second week to encompass the third or fourth week in August OR to encompass Labour Day, as I am helping move our daughters back to University during this time. Fernie Kids will be closed August 31st – September 7th, 2020, reopening September 8th.
- third week to encompass the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Fernie Kids will be closed December 24th – January 1st, 2020, reopening January 4th, 2021.
Please note, full time fees have been calculated for the whole year, taking into account statutory holidays and scheduled Daycare closures, and then split evenly over 12 months. Therefore, the fee for months when there is a closure is the same as for months when there are no closures. It is recommended that parents take their vacation at the same time as Fernie Kids, as there will be no credits or refunds for months where parents take vacation when Fernie Kids is open. There is no credit for statutory holidays, as mentioned, they are factored into the average fee calculation. Also, if your child starts in a full time position, but you wish to drop back to part time, you will be responsible for paying the entire full time fee until such a time as the days your child no longer requires are filled.
Please note, part-timers are required to register for consistent recurring days of the week and month. We do not offer flexible part-time registrations. Therefore, if your child is normally in attendance on days that you would like to take vacation, and these days are outside of Fernie Kids closures, then you will be required to pay for these days. If a statutory holiday falls on the day your child would normally be in attendance, you DO NOT have to pay for that day. Also, if your child starts in a full time position, but you wish to drop back to part time, you will be responsible for paying the entire full time fee until such a time as the days your child no longer requires are filled.
Child Care Fees* (as of April 2020)
Full Time – $1000 per month per child
Part Time:
- $65 per day
Drop In:
- $75 per day
- $45 per half day
- Please check Facebook Fernie Kids Childcare Drop In Days to see availability. If there is an opening, you may comment to claim that day and send payment to meretta@ferniekids.com Payment must be paid prior to drop off and an emergency contact form must also be filled out. If your child is ill and not able to attend their regular care, please do not bring them to Fernie Kids as I will have to send them home.
* FERNIE KIDS has the right to increase daycare fees at their discretion at any time. Also, FERNIE KIDS is a recipient of the BC Government’s Childcare Operating Fund, as well as the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. As such, childcare fees are reduced at the family care rate of up to $600 per month maximum per child under the age of three and up to a maximum of $500 per month per child over the age of three. PLEASE NOTE: The CCFRI is a government program and can be revoked at any point in time. Please do not count this funding as guaranteed. Instead budget that the cost of childcare is the regular rate and that the CCFRI is a “bonus” to your monthly budget.
Please note that child care services are exempt from GST and PST, so you will not be charged tax.