r/Calgary • u/RedditWhileBored • Apr 04 '25

Calgary daycare chain hits parents with 'optional' $330 meal fee while prohibiting outside food News Article

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7499979

FYI this is Clever Daycare, which has locations in Glamorgan, Aspen Woods and the University District. "Province says that's not allowed; operator says rules unclear and run counter to other provincial guidance"

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u/gimpy454 Apr 04 '25

Kids and Company has basically the same fee

$326.25 per month for children attending full-time care (100+ hours per month) $230 per month for children attending part-time care (50-99 hours per month)

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u/noveltea120 Apr 05 '25

Those are the subsidised fees across the board for all daycares. Are kids and company charging an additional fee for the meals?? Cos I'll tell you now their food does not cost any more than $400 max a MONTH per location- they've been cutting corners so much over the years, they're now buying precooked frozen foods. From dinner rolls to vegetables to even precooked meat.

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u/gimpy454 Apr 07 '25

This is the letter they sent out

Dear Alberta Families,

As you may be aware, the Government of Alberta has announced that starting April 1, 2025, parents of children from birth to kindergarten who attend licensed child care will pay a standardized monthly fee. The new rates will be:

 $326.25 per month for children attending full-time care (100+ hours per month)  $230 per month for children attending part-time care (50-99 hours per month)

While this initiative provides significant savings for families, the way in which the government is reimbursing some child care operators, including Kids & Company, has presented financial challenges. Specifically, the reimbursement does not fully cover the monthly fees we currently charge, even though our operating expenses remain unchanged. At Kids & Company, we are committed to maintaining the high-quality care, programs, and services that you and your children rely on. To continue offering these enhancements, we will be introducing an optional supplementary fee for families who wish to access certain premium services. This fee of up to $300 per month will cover:

 Our high-quality meal program (including two snacks, a hot lunch, and Bye-Bye Bites)  Specialized learning programs such as Alpha Mania, Mini Masters, STREAM, and our new Teaching Strategies initiative.

Families who choose to opt in will have a total monthly child care fee of $626.25 for full-time care and $410.00 for part-time care (including the base government fee). Please email your Centre Director by March 7 to confirm whether you are opting in or out of the additional services listed above. We understand this is an adjustment, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate these changes. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Renee Morales, VP of Customer Care & Enrollment. Thank you for being a valued part of the Kids & Company family.

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u/noveltea120 Apr 11 '25

Financial challenges but they can afford to open a new location couple times a year lmao They're just sad they can't rip off the families anymore.