The Alberta Government has shut down three daycares, all operated under the Little Scholars brand, due to serious safety concerns. The closures, which took effect on August 12, came after months of warnings and probationary oversight that failed to resolve ongoing issues.
According to the Alberta Government, the closures were not taken lightly. The three daycares had been under a probationary license due to what officials described as “a number of non-compliances” with provincial child-care regulations. Despite increased monitoring and attempts to bring the daycares up to standard, Child Care Licensing determined that the risk to the children’s health, safety, and well-being was too great to allow them to remain open.
For the 297 children enrolled across the three daycares, the closures have created a sudden void in their daily routines. Parents are now scrambling to find alternative care, a task made more challenging by the already high demand for daycare spots in Calgary.
The Little Scholars brand, which once held a solid reputation in the local community, is now facing an uphill battle to restore its name—if it can at all. With its licenses revoked, the company’s future in Calgary is uncertain, and the trust it built with families over the years has been seriously damaged.
The closures have sent ripples through Calgary’s child-care community, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety standards. While the government’s swift action is a clear message that it will not tolerate substandard care, it also raises questions about how issues of this magnitude could go unchecked until it was too late.