A Guelph daycare that was supposed to reopen next week after asbestos cleanup will instead close its doors for a much longer period.
The Willowdale Child Care Centre on Willow Road was shut down last weekend after insulation containing traces of asbestos was discovered behind a baseboard.
It was believed the cleanup would only take a week, but parents say they have received phone calls informing them the daycare will be closed for a longer term.
Wellington County and City of Guelph officials say the Willowdale child care program will be relocated to an alternate site, yet to be determined, until the building can be cleaned up properly.
A total of 55 children are affected.
For parents like Ashley Dickieson, making alternative arrangements until a new site is found won’t be easy.
“I’m a full-time student at Conestoga College, so it kind of tightens everything up a little bit and I can’t go to school. I’m frustrated,” she says.
“I just don’t know where to put (my son) – you know, wondering if the buildings are safe for any of my children.”
Wellington County’s warden says the building is safe, but because it was being used as a daycare, the county doesn’t want to see the building reopened.
“Considering the nature of these services, young children … I think better safe than sorry,” Chris White tells CTV.
Personal items left in the building will be returned to families.
The facility was previously closed due to asbestos in December 2011.
At that time, daycare services were offered in an alternative location while a 10-month cleanup process took place.
