A B.C. Supreme Court Justice issued an order Thursday prohibiting a Hart-area woman from operating a daycare without a license.
In doing so, Justice Carol Ross acknowledged a lack of affordable daycare in B.C. and made note of the letters parents provided in support of Melissa Sweder but also noted the number of health and safety hazards officials found when they were finally able to inspect her 6254 Crown Dr. home.
Ross also noted the order will not prevent Sweder from obtaining a licence. However, if she is caught without one while caring for three or more children who who are not related by blood or marriage, Sweder would be subject to a fine of as much as $10,000.
The matter began May 10 when Northern Health received a complaint about the number of children at Sweder's home. Licensing officers offered to work with Sweder to bring her business into compliance, but she refused to cooperate and would not allow officials into her home, the court was told.
Sweder had inquired about obtaining a licence but backed away upon learning that as well as herself, her own children would have to go through a criminal record check, a proviso she called "disgusting." Sweder was also concerned friends of her own children would not be able to visit because it would violate the supervisor-to-child ratio.
Officers kept an eye on the home in the days that followed and counted as many as a dozen children at the site on occasion. Sweder, meanwhile, remained confrontational, telling officials she knew she was breaking the law.
"I will not permit entry today and will never permit entry to my home," Sweder reportedly told officials on May 11. "I will not become licensed and I will continue to care for children. I bend the rules and I informed my parents that this is an unlicensed care that does not follow the rules. They are all fine with this arrangement."
The court also heard about the officials' marked Northern Health vehicle being targeted with a water balloon raid by children at the home that, in part, forced a truck to stop because they were blocking the street. Later the same day, another child spray painted the back end of the vehicle, the court heard.
Armed with a court-endorsed search warrant, official were able to enter the home on June 8 and came across several safety hazards and concerns, from inadequate supervision to openly-stored cleaning supplies to an uncovered smoke alarm to a toddler playing with an air conditioner in the play area.
In contrast to her tone while dealing with the officers, Sweder expressed a willingness to comply with the rules going forward when she addressed the court.
"I didn't think it was going to get to this point," Sweder said. "I kind of just run my home the same way and all the parents were happy with the care and in full support so I didn't realize it was going to get this far."
