Northern Alberta daycare on probation after inspections reveal multiple infractions

A northern Alberta daycare has been placed on probation following a string of infractions, including allegations staff were inappropriately punishing children in their care. 

Provincial government inspectors have suspended the licence for Baby Steps Early Learning Center in Slave Lake and placed the facility on probation status.

The probationary licence was issued due to 41 non-compliance orders and ongoing safety concerns, said Matt Jones, Alberta's minister of jobs, economy and trades, in a Friday statement to CBC. 

"These non-compliances are deeply concerning, and our highest priority is the safety and well-being of the children at this facility," Jones said.

Inspection reports that date back to the summer detail multiple sanctions for staffing issues, unsafe operational practices and the manner in which its staff were interacting with children at the daycare. 

Tanya Shelley, the owner and operator of the facility, said she is working to address the problems. 

"Most of our non-compliances are actually administrative," Shelley said. "But certainly nothing that was posing any sort of danger to children's safety or well-being." 

'A louder voice'

The facility has been sanctioned four times for its child guidance practices. These include two instances where children faced  "physical punishment, verbal or physical degradation or emotional deprivation," and two where guidance was deemed inappropriate. 

Other inspection reports noted problems with attendance records, first-aid training, safe handling of medication, record-keeping, staffing and evacuation measures.

Shelley said the incidents involved verbal punishment of children, instances where staff failed to use "positive reinforcement" or yelled at the minors in their care. 

"That it really is not conducive to what we would like to see in an early learning centre," Shelley said.

"The reality is that sometimes we do need to use a louder voice to minimize a potential safety issue." 

According to Alberta's handbook for licensed childcare operators, verbal or physical degradation includes any harsh, belittling, or threatening or degrading response by any adult that humiliates or undermines a child's self-respect. It may also include inappropriate exposure to abuse or violence.

Alberta RCMP say they have not received any reports about the daycare.

Shelley said the daycare first opened in August 2024 and has 28 children ranging in age from one to five. She said she has struggled to find adequately trained staff.

Government officials said the program will be closely monitored until the probation period ends on June 12. If issues remain unresolved, the facility's operating permit could be revoked. 

Slave Lake, with a population of about 7,000, has six licensed child-care programs and family day home agencies with a combined capacity for about 300 kids. That number doesn't include private child-care arrangements.