Saanich Parks and Recreation is offering day camps to fill the gap left by a strike in the Saanich School District set to begin on Monday.
The strike follows a breakdown in negotiations between CUPE Local 441, the union representing support staff employees, and School District 63 (Saanich). The main point of contention between the two parties is around wage disparity, with the union saying their wages are “significantly lower” than their counterparts in Sooke or Victoria districts.
With parents facing closed schools right at the beginning of the school year, Saanich Parks and Recreation says they have arranged day camps for children aged five to 11 from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.
The day camps run 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. daily and cost $40 a day. Registration is capped at 20 to 35 children based on location.
Saanich Parks and Recreation says that if camps fill to capacity, parents can request to be placed on a wait list.
On an information sheet posted to the Saanich Parks and Recreation website, the organization says they “will continue to work on other options to provide more availability to families.”
Tim Ford
