MCRC is taking every reasonable precaution to protect our staff, students, volunteers, children and families' health and safety. Visit this page for up to date information on how MCRC is actively responding to the current situation.
Please Note:
A self-assessment must be completed by all staff and children daily, prior to attending MCRC programs, and confirmation must be shown to staff at the door. Find Ontario's COVID-19 Self-Assessment at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/
Updates:
Friday, May 20, 2022: MCRC sends an update to MCRC families regarding MCRC's COVID-19 protocols. Read the update.
Wednesday, May 3, 2022: MCRC sends an update to MCRC families regarding MCRC's COVID-19 protocols. Read the update.
Thursday, March 31, 2022: MCRC sends a letter to MCRC families regarding MCRC's COVID-19 protocols. Read the letter.
Tuesday, March 15, 2022: MCRC sends letters to MCRC families regarding upcoming changes to MCRC's COVID-19 protocols. Read the letter to Licensed Child Care families. Read the letter to EarlyON and Family Fun program families.
Monday, January 24, 2022: MCRC sends a letter from Halton Region to all Licensed Child Care families regarding COVID-19 paediatric clinics. Read the letter here.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022: Halton Region updates the COVID-19 School and Child Care Information page on their website. View the updated page.
Thursday, January 13, 2022: MCRC receives a communication from The Ministry of Education regarding the re-opening of schools and enhanced health and safety measures. Read the letter here.
Wednesday, January 5, 2022: MCRC sends an update to all families registered for January EarlyON programs. Read the update.
Tuesday, January 4, 2022: MCRC sends an update to all families registered for January Family Fun Programs. Read the update.
Tuesday, January 4, 2022: MCRC sends an update to all Before and After School Program families. Read the update.
Monday, January 3, 2022: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the update.
Tuesday, December 21, 2021: MCRC circulates a letter to families from Halton Region Public Health. Read the letter.
Thursday, March 4, 2021: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the update.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the update.
Tuesday, September, 2020: One Before and After School Program staff member at Bruce Trail Public School tests positive for COVID-19. Read the communication from Halton Region Public Health.
Monday, September 14, 2020: Halton Region releases an updated FAQ on re-opening child care. View the document.
Thursday, July 30, 2020: The Ontario government announced its plan to allow licensed child care centres across Ontario to open at full capacity starting September 1, 2020. Read the news release.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020: The Ministry of Education releases updated Operational Guidelines for Re-opening Child Care and Building on How Does Learning Happen? Pedagogical Approaches to Re-opening Child Care documents. View Operational Guidelines for Re-opening Child Care. View Building on How Does Learning Happen? Pedagogical Approaches to Re-opening Child Care.
Monday, July 13, 2020: Halton Region releases an updated FAQ on re-opening child care. View the document.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020: Halton Region releases Reopening Child Care - Frequently Asked Questions document for Child Care Operators in Halton. View the memo.
Tuesday, June 9, 2020: MCRC shares a communication with Licensed Child Care families. Read the full communication.
Tuesday, June 9, 2020: The Ontario government announces its plan to reopen child care centres across the province. Read the full communication
Monday, June 8, 2020: MCRC receives a communication from the Ministry of Education, Early Years and Child Care Division, indicating that the Emergency Order closing licensed child care centres and all facilities providing indoor recreational programs, including EarlyON Child and Family Centres, has been extended until June 19, 2020. Read the full communication.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020: Ontario extends Declaration of Emergency until June 30. Read the full communication.
Monday, May 25, 2020: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the full communication.
Thursday, May 21, 2020: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the full communication.
Friday, May 1, 2020: MCRC shares a video message from our Executive Director, Rebecca Barrows-Vrankulj, with MCRC families. See the video.
Thursday, April 23, 2020: MCRC receives a communication from Halton Region's Director of Children's Services re: Emergency Child Care eligibility. Read the full communication.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020: MCRC shares a document from CAMH's Shkwaabe Makwa program on Mental Health. View the document.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020: MCRC sends a letter from Halton Region to all Licensed Child Care families about Emergency Child Care Centres. Read the letter.
Friday, April 3,2020: MCRC sends an update to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the full communication.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020: MCRC sends a communication to all Licensed Child Care families about refund processing and the April billing cycle. Read the full communication.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020: Ontario Government releases a list of Essential Workplaces that will not be ordered to shut down as of Wednesday, March 25. The list includes child care services for essential workers, and home child care services of less than six children.
Monday, March 23, 2020: MCRC submits an Expression of Interest to operate an emergency child care centre to the Region of Halton.
Sunday, March 22, 2020: Ontario's Education Minister announces that some child care centres in the province will re-open as emergency child care centres for healthcare and frontline workers. Read the article.
Thursday, March 19, 2020: MCRC sources information on cyber security and avoiding phishing scam
Thursday, March 19, 2020: MCRC receives the following information from the Ministry of Health:
Guidance for Food Premises Guidance for Personal Service Settings Ontario Blood Utilization poster
Thursday, March 19, 2020: MCRC sends a letter to All Staff and families about the newly released federal COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and how it relates to the operation of our organization and the families we serve. Read the communication.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020: MCRC sends letter to all Licensed Child Care families. Read the communication.
Monday, March 16, 2020: MCRC sends a communication to 410 Bronte Street location families regarding the direction from the Chief Medical Officer of Health to close child care centres, effective immediately. Bronte Street School is closed as of today. Read the communication.
Monday, March 16, 2020: MCRC sends a communication to 410 Bronte Street location families regarding the closure of BSS, Nursery School and Administration at 410 Bronte Street. Programs will close by end of day on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Read the communication.
Monday, March 16, 2020: The Halton Resource connection circulates a letter to all supported EarlyON centres, informing them that the Pedagogical Leader will not be visiting sites until the week of April 6, 2020. Read the communication.
Monday, March 16, 2020: The Halton Resource Connection circulates a letter to all child care centres supported by Quality First and In Centre Support to inform them that no THRC staff will be visiting their centre between March 16 - April 5, 2020. Read the communication.
Monday, March 16, 2020: View the COVID-19 screening tool: For Parents and Children For Staff and Tenants
Sunday, March 15, 2020: MCRC circulates a communication to All Staff including a Region of Halton document on cleaning practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. View the document.
Sunday, March 15, 2020: MCRC sends out a communication to 410 Bronte Street South families providing information on precautionary measures and new screening process. Read the communication
Sunday, March 15, 2020: The Halton Resource Connection announces all programs are closed from Monday, March 16 to Sunday, April 5, 2020. Read the communication.
Friday, March 13, 2020: MCRC sends out communication to EarlyON and Family Fun program families to announce that all EarlyON and Family Fun programs are cancelled from Saturday, March 14 to Saturday, April 4, 2020. Read the communication
Friday, March 13, 2020: MCRC sends out communication to families enrolled in Licensed Child Care programs regarding refunds for fees. Read the communication
Friday, March 13, 2020: Despite no confirmed cases of COVID-19, MCRC takes preventative measures and instates Outbreak Mode for 410 Bronte Street Location. Outbreak Mode results in a heightened sense of cleaning and a reduction in location visitors. Learn more about Outbreak Mode Protocols.
Friday, March 13, 2020: The Halton Resource Connection postpones all Professional Learning sessions scheduled between March 16 and April 5, 2020.
Friday, March 13, 2020: MCRC confirms that Licensed Child Care programs, Nursery School programs and March Break camp at Bruce Trail Early Learning Centre, Viola Desmond Early Learning Centre and St. Scholastica Catholic Elementary School will not be operating from Monday, March 16 to Friday, April 3, 2020. Read the communication.
Friday, March 13, 2020: MCRC sends out communication to families enrolled in Licensed Child Care programs about the Halton District School Board announcement regarding the closure of all school buildings. Read the communication.
Friday, March 13, 2020: The Halton District School Board announces that all school buildings will be closed to child care and EarlyON programming as of Monday, March 16, 2020. Read the update.
Thursday, March 13, 2020: MCRC sends out an initial communication to Licensed Child Care families regarding school closures in Ontario. Read the communication
Thursday, March 12, 2020: The Region of Halton circulates an update re: COVID-19 to child care centres in Halton. Read the update
Thursday, March 12, 2020: MCRC removes reusable hand towels from all washrooms and stocks disposable towels
Wednesday, March 11, 2020: MCRC Youth Video dance scheduled for Friday, March 27 cancelled.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020: MCRC circulates information to staff from the Region of Halton health department regarding taking precautionary measures.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020: The Region of Halton circulates an update re: COVID-19 to child care centres in Halton. Read the update
Tuesday, March 3, 2020: The Region of Halton circulates a translated COVID-19 update in 3 languages: French, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese
Monday, March 2, 2020: The Region of Halton circulates an update re: COVID-19 to child care centres in Halton. Read the update
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are all MCRC programs closed?
At this time, most of MCRC’s programs are closed. This includes our Licensed Child Care Programs, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, Family Fun Programs, and The Halton Resource Connection.
MCRC is currently still operating the Infant Food Bank by appointment only.
Our licensed home child care providers remain open. At this time, the directive to close from the province does not include home child care.
When will MCRC centres be re-opening?
On April 23, the Ministry of Education, Early Years and Child Care Division released that the Emergency Order closing all licensed child care centres, and all facilities providing indoor recreational programs including EarlyON Child and Family Centres has been extended until May 6, 2020. Read the full communication.
It was announced that some child care centres will be reopening as emergency child care centres for health care and front line workers. Will MCRC reopen to accommodate as well?
The specific emergency child care centres for healthcare workers will be selected by our Regional Children's Services and Public Health department. MCRC submitted an Expression of Interest as of on March 23, 2020 to be selected as an emergency child care centre in Milton. We hope to hear soon. In the meantime, should you require care, we are still operating our Licensed Home Child Care program (#72 on the provincial list of essential workplaces) and have some spots available. Please contact Megan Lantz at meganl@mcrc.on.ca should you want to explore that option.
Will my child care fees be reimbursed for the closure?
Although provincial or Regional funding has not been made available to us at this time, we are using our emergency reserves to be able to offer fee reimbursement for our current closure dates. We hope that refunding your child care fees for the next few weeks will offer some relief to your family. Our finance team is working hard to process your reimbursement as soon as possible and we appreciate your patience.
Will I be charged for my child care fees on April 1st?
MCRC will not be billing any families for their child care fees on April 1st. If programs are able to re-open on April 6th, child care fees will be processed at that time, and will be adjusted for the closure days that take place in April.
My child was registered to start child care soon. What should I expect?
All families who were scheduled to start during the closure have been contacted by the registration administrator to delay their start date. They will not be billed, and their spaces are being held for when we re-open.
I would like to add my child to the wait list for child care. Is that still possible?
Families can still be added to the wait list for future care by contacting registration@mcrc.on.ca
Should licensed home child care be closed?
Source: City of Toronto
Home child care agencies are advised to discuss with their providers whether child care service in the provider's home will continue. Home child care providers are encouraged to become familiar with and adhere to all public health guidelines and advisories; as of now, this includes actively checking children, parents, staff and visitors for any symptoms and asking about recent travel history that may be related to COVID-19. It is critical that we keep COVID-19 out of our child care spaces.
How do I talk to my child about COVID-19?
As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease. Read article.
What is Halton Region Public Health doing in response to COVID-19?
Halton Region Public Health is monitoring the evolving situation. We are working closely in collaboration with local, provincial and federal governments, as well as family physicians and hospitals, police, school boards, child care centers and long-term care homes.
Cases and suspected cases of COVID-19 are reportable to local health authorities under the provincial Health Protection and Promotion Act. As we are notified of potential cases, we immediately follow up with these individuals to inform them of the potential health risk and provide education and instruction on when and how to seek medical care, if that becomes necessary. This work is part of routine public health follow-up of a case of an infectious disease.
Halton Region Public Health investigates any close contacts of confirmed cases of COVID-19, in addition to all people who have recently returned from travel outside of Canada, are showing symptoms of COVID-19 and are part of workplaces that are essential to daily living. Investigation includes:
- Ensuring the person under investigation and their close contacts understand and follow self-isolation as required as well as monitor for symptoms;
- Ensuring those who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 understand how to reduce the risk of transmission to others;
- Learning the travel history of the person under investigation; and
- Coordinating testing if required, at an appropriate location.
Additional Resources:
Halton Region Website - COVID-19
Canada Public Health - COVID-19
Contact:
If you require additional information or have specific questions, please contact us.
Phone: 905-876-1244 ext. 210
Email: covid19info@mcrc.on.ca