After searching for a year and a half for childcare to no avail, Sarah Fennell was thrilled when she found a spot for her son at a licence-not-required daycare in Saanich.

Fennell didn害羞草研究所檛 hesitate to pay a $1,100 non-refundable deposit to daycare operator Jaylene Hawkins, to secure a spot several months in advance. Her son had been on the waitlists of more than 50 different daycare facilities across Greater Victoria.

害羞草研究所淚 saw this advertisement from Jaylene in June saying she had space available,害羞草研究所� Fennell told Black Press Media in an interview on Nov. 10. 害羞草研究所淚 contacted her, and she said that we couldn害羞草研究所檛 do a tour of her place because she had just given birth. And she said that if I wanted to hold the space that I needed to pay a deposit, and that there were a lot of people interested.害羞草研究所�

At first, nothing about the agreed-upon arrangement appeared off, said Fennell. But she began growing suspicious in October when she was contacted by other parents claiming that their children were all scheduled for the same two spots at the daycare.

In B.C., a licence-not-required daycare allows for a caregiver to care for up to two children or one sibling group, in addition to those related to them by blood or marriage.

While Fennell had initial concerns about the overbooking, it was when she learned of Hawkins害羞草研究所� criminal record, which included fraud-related charges, as well as Hawkins害羞草研究所� husband害羞草研究所檚 criminal past, that she ultimately decided to cancel her spot and confront Hawkins.

Fennel said Hawkins refused to refund her $1,100 deposit.

害羞草研究所淭hey know the contract,害羞草研究所� Hawkins told Black Press Media. 害羞草研究所淭hey know that the deposit is non-refundable, it害羞草研究所檚 not written in small letters, and they were willing to pay for the spots.害羞草研究所�

Hawkins said that she害羞草研究所檚 been forthcoming and that she害羞草研究所檚 run her daycare for five years without any complaints until Oct. 18.

害羞草研究所淚f they drop out for any reason, that害羞草研究所檚 not on me,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey were willing to join and if they found something else out after they signed up, that害羞草研究所檚 still not on me. If they wanted to ask me about my criminal past, I害羞草研究所檓 an open book. I would be happy to explain.害羞草研究所�

Hawkins added parents have often cancelled their reserved spot at her daycare once managing to get their child accepted at a licensed facility, which is why she害羞草研究所檚 collected multiple deposits despite only being able to legally care for two children beyond her own.

Gillian Fehr, chief executive officer of Gillybird Nature Schools, is aware of the allegations and said they highlight a much larger issue surrounding the state of childcare, not just in Greater Victoria, but across the whole province.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 capitalized on the fact that people are desperate for care and knows that people will keep sending her money for a spot when she knows it doesn害羞草研究所檛 exist,害羞草研究所� she told Black Press Media.

Fehr said she害羞草研究所檚 never heard of anything like this before, adding that an increasingly desperate daycare situation is paving the way for potential scammers to take advantage of.

While doing a bit of background research on potential daycare providers may seem like a no-brainer to many, Fehr said it害羞草研究所檚 not always obvious to young parents.

害羞草研究所淭he fact is 害羞草研究所� these are people who probably have a child for the first time. They don害羞草研究所檛 know to do those things. And it害羞草研究所檚 never been brought to their attention to do those things because they害羞草研究所檝e never heard a story about someone who was scammed or taken advantage of by a childcare provider.害羞草研究所�

Island Health, the organization responsible for licensing, said it害羞草研究所檚 investigated the daycare and has confirmed that Hawkins is an unlicenced childcare provider.

害羞草研究所淯pon receiving a complaint, Island Health investigated and confirmed this person was operating in contravention of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act,害羞草研究所� Island Health said in a statement. 害羞草研究所淭he operator is to immediately cease providing, or holding themselves out, as providing care to more than two children not related to them by blood or marriage.害羞草研究所�

The Community Care and Assisted Living Act defines a community care facility as a person providing care to three or more people who are not related by blood or marriage to the person providing care.

Island Health said it will continue to monitor the situation, but parents remain without answers.

The Saanich Police Department is also looking into the matter and said its investigation is open and active.

害羞草研究所淚 falsely assumed that someone who takes care of children for a living is a good person,害羞草研究所� Fennell said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: austin.westphal@saanichnews.com.

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