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 didn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚 saw this advertisement from Jaylene in June saying she had space available,91裸聊视频� Fennell told Black Press Media in an interview on Nov. 10. 91裸聊视频淚 contacted her, and she said that we couldn91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�

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 Hawkins91裸聊视频� criminal record, which included fraud-related charges, as well as Hawkins91裸聊视频� husband91裸聊视频檚 criminal past, that she ultimately decided to cancel her spot and confront Hawkins.

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

91裸聊视频淭hey know the contract,91裸聊视频� Hawkins told Black Press Media. 91裸聊视频淭hey know that the deposit is non-refundable, it91裸聊视频檚 not written in small letters, and they were willing to pay for the spots.91裸聊视频�

Hawkins said that she91裸聊视频檚 been forthcoming and that she91裸聊视频檚 run her daycare for five years without any complaints until Oct. 18.

91裸聊视频淚f they drop out for any reason, that91裸聊视频檚 not on me,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey were willing to join and if they found something else out after they signed up, that91裸聊视频檚 still not on me. If they wanted to ask me about my criminal past, I91裸聊视频檓 an open book. I would be happy to explain.91裸聊视频�

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 she91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 exist,91裸聊视频� she told Black Press Media.

Fehr said she91裸聊视频檚 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 it91裸聊视频檚 not always obvious to young parents.

91裸聊视频淭he fact is 91裸聊视频� these are people who probably have a child for the first time. They don91裸聊视频檛 know to do those things. And it91裸聊视频檚 never been brought to their attention to do those things because they91裸聊视频檝e never heard a story about someone who was scammed or taken advantage of by a childcare provider.91裸聊视频�

Island Health, the organization responsible for licensing, said it91裸聊视频檚 investigated the daycare and has confirmed that Hawkins is an unlicenced childcare provider.

91裸聊视频淯pon receiving a complaint, Island Health investigated and confirmed this person was operating in contravention of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act,91裸聊视频� Island Health said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 falsely assumed that someone who takes care of children for a living is a good person,91裸聊视频� Fennell said.

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

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