A B.C. woman is alerting parents after witnessing a daycare provider leave a group of children unattended while she went into a store.
The woman was walking along Dewdney Trunk Road in Maple Ridge just before noon Wednesday when she noticed nine children outside a nail salon and was concerned for their safety.
She asked one of the children if anyone was watching them and the child pointed at the nail salon.
Ash, who has asked to be identified only by first name to protect her identity, went inside and confronted the person.
"When I went into the salon the 'daycare provider' was sitting at a nail desk with what appeared to be her older daughter with her back against the children,” she said.
The children appeared to be under the age of seven and there was a double stroller, suggesting to Ash the children were quite young.
"I told her she can’t be leaving kids unattended on the side of Dewdney Trunk Road," she said. "She refused to give me her daycare name."
Ash called the police to report what she witnessed and wanted to warn parents by posting about the incident on social media.
People on social media quickly identified the woman in question, who is listed as an unlicensed child-care operator.
Maple Ridge RCMP investigated and told Glacier Media they have concluded their investigation.
Insp. Martin Guay said police officers spoke with the involved parties and obtained security footage.
“[Police] have now verified via CCTV that the daycare provider did enter the nail salon and promptly left within three minutes,” Guay said.
But Ash believes the woman only left because she confronted her.
"Any time a child is left alone there is a risk,” she said. "Especially on a busy street that’s frequented by drug users.”
'No risk to the children'
Guay said the children outside the nail salon were in the line of sight of the daycare provider for three minutes.
"Police have determined that there was no risk to the children and that no Criminal Code offence was committed,” Guay said.
Fraser Health is also investigating and has been made aware of the "unlicensed operator involved in this incident."
Glacier Media has learned that officers attended her operation and confirmed she was providing care to six children unrelated to her on Aug. 21.
She was operating in contravention of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. She was told to immediately reduce the number of children to one or two who are not related by blood or marriage.
A community care facilities licence is required when an individual is providing care to three or more children not related to them by blood or marriage.
A spokesperson with Fraser Health confirmed an operator who is found to be operating an unlicensed facility must reduce to two children or stop operating.
Previous investigation
In February 2022, an operator with the same name was also investigated after a complaint. A licensing officer confirmed she was providing care to eight children unrelated to her and was operating an unlicensed facility.
She was ordered to reduce numbers and submit written confirmation of the reduction. The Fraser Health spokesperson said the operator agreed to comply with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
Ash said she hoped the most recent case will serve as a warning to parents. As of Thursday afternoon, her social media post had gained more than 545 comments and was shared almost 2,000 times.
"Do your research, especially if they’re unlicensed, ask people for reviews and look them up on Fraser Health,” Ash said.
Many parents have reached out to her to thank her for confronting the woman and sharing the information.
