With only two licensed childcare centers in Haliburton County, finding reliable childcare here is a bit like winning the lottery. It’s great when you hear there’s a spot for your child, but the waiting, wishing and hoping is exhausting for parents.

On the other side of the equation are those that care for children in childcare centers like Compass in Minden. In Part 2 of our series on the shortage of childcare in Haliburton County, we hear from an Early Childcare Educator and from the administrator who manages the waitlist there. Both say the shortage of childcare is a complex issue, involving both the need for more centers, but also the need to respect, compensate and retain quality childcare staff.

Ultimately, both say quality childcare should be a right, not a privilege because zero to six years old is a critical time for proper child development.