A Winnipeg father frustrated by the lack of daycare spaces in Whyte Ridge is hoping to start a community-run facility in the area.

Scott Jordan — a married father of two young children — is rallying the support of residents and will hold a meeting at Whyte Ridge Community Centre (170 Fleetwood Rd. — rear entrance) on Thurs., June 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to establish a board of directors for the proposed daycare.

Jordan was among a group of parents lined up at 3 a.m. on a freezing February morning to try and register their kids for the YMCA-run daycare at Whyte Ridge School. He was second in line — and his family still doesn’t have a place in the facility.

"I thought ‘How crazy is this?’ I took the initiative, took names and arrival times and decided we need to do something about this, which is where it really started," he said.

Jordan, who works in I.T., said there are a number of facilities in his area, but they are "all full and too expensive for the average parents."

"They cost between $50 and $100 per day per child, so that’s expensive for five days a week, 30 days a month. The option is to either spend all your money or for one parent to quit their job."

Jordan, who was raised in Transcona, said part of the problem is there is "no real centralized effort to address the problem at a higher level, as there is no centralized organization."

"Parents are forced to send their kids to home daycares of find alternative options," Jordan said.

The vision for the proposed daycare is that it will be built in the vicinity of Whyte Ridge School or — preferably — attached to it. School and Pembina Trails School Division officials have been "helpful" so far, Jordan said.

He noted how daycares such as the recently-opened Bright Beginnings Educare Inc. in Headingley and Sunnyside Child Care in Charleswood have helped alleviate the need for daycare spaces.

Bright Beginning’s board president Gerry Munday recently told Canstar News the new facility provides a total of 80 new spaces — and increase of 30 spots compared to the daycare’s former site.

In terms of the upcoming public meeting, Jordan hopes area residents will turn out to show their support.

"This is a problem, we want to fix it and we want to get things done," he said.  

For more information, email sjordan@whyteridgedaycare.com.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com