By Steve Hubrecht
Radium Hot Springs council has backed village staff’s move to disallow a local daycare’s infant toddler program.
Tiny Titans Childcare has operated in the Radium Plaza building since January 2023 and has had an infant-toddler program for kids age 0 to 36 months since May 2023. But earlier this spring, after the daycare consulted with village staff about a possible expansion, daycare operators were told they couldn’t have an infant-toddler program without a fire alarm system in the whole building.
But installing the system would come with a five figure price tag — far beyond what Tiny Titans can afford.
During Radium’s May 12 council meeting, Tiny Titans representatives outlined the negative impact for local families suddenly without daycare, with some parents forced to miss work to stay at home with their kids. Tiny Titans representatives also expressed disappointment in how the issue was handled.
After that meeting, village staff reviewed the issue and sent a report to Radium council, which was received during the May 26 meeting.
The report outlined that the review included a building official peer review, as well as input from the Architectural Institute of B.C., lawyers, and Interior Health, and that all of these parties affirmed the village’s move to close down the infant toddler program as being correct.
Radium building and plumbing official Wayne Gamborski defended how he handled the issue.
“Several of the claims made by the delegation at that meeting (on May12) called my professionalism, ethics, and work product into question.??For the record, from my perspective, these statements were not accurate and do not represent the intent, integrity, nor nature of my work on this,” wrote Gamborski.
During the May 26 meeting, Radium councillors voiced their support for Gamborski.
“Every piece of information I see tells me the correct decision was made, even if it is unpopular,” said mayor Mike Gray. “I know it is challenging. I know it is unpopular. But we have to follow regulations.”
