SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Weeks after the closure of Northern Tikes Day Care, two of the city's day care facilities are at capacity and both have long waiting lists – this prior to the closure.

Since the closure of Northern Tikes Day Care, day cares around the city have been receiving an influx of phone calls about space availability, but to most who call they are finding space is very limited, and in many cases, non-existent. - NNSL file photo

Sixty kids were left without day care services after Northern Tikes closed its doors on June 26. The business closed because of financial troubles – it didn't have its annual audit reports completed in time to receive funding from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Leona Callahan, owner of Funtime Dayhome, said she hasn't received many calls about space availability, but did recently take in one child from the now defunct day care. With the one addition, Callahan said she is now full with 16 kids.

"I've got a waiting list of 16 or so kids as well," she said, adding the waiting list had been that long prior to the closure.

Linda Benedict, executive director for the Yellowknife Day Care Association, said before the day care closed, she received nine calls from Northern Tikes parents within 24 hours of receiving a letter explaining the closure. She said some spaces were available for the summer and fall sessions, but because Benedict was unavailable to comment since the closure, the numbers available might be different.

A representative of Kids Korner Childcare said all 36 spots they have are completely full. They were able to accommodate a few of the kids from Northern Tikes because they had spots opening up for the summer. He also said they received a wave of phone calls just after the closure from parents looking for open spaces and have kids on a waiting list, but could not provide specific numbers.

Shawn McCann, manager of public affairs for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, said based on the list of available day care providers, more than 45 day homes, day cares and after school progams, there were spaces available for some of the kids from Northern Tikes.

"They're just sort of shuffling around and filling up other spaces," McCann said.

McCann said the department has only received one enquiry about day care availability, but urges anyone seeking services to contact the department.

"There are different options available right now," she said of the array of summer programs and camps available for kids. "We don't really know (the extent of the situation) because people aren't contacting us."