Province shuts down Edmonton child-care centre over concerns of unsupervised children

The Alberta government has shut down a child-care centre in Edmonton's west end over safety concerns.

Willowbrae Academy West Point Centre, at 175th Street and 99A Avenuein the Terra Losa neighbourhood, was ordered to cease operations effective Oct. 9, the provincial government said in a news release Thursday.

According to the news release, the child-care program had been suspended and placed on a probationary licence until Wednesday"as a result of a number of non-compliances involving unsupervised children."

Due to ongoing concerns, the licence was not reinstated, the release said.

The closure affects 187 children and their families.

Shanna Schulhauser, communications director with Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade, told CBC News in an email that licensed child-care programs are routinely inspected. Licence cancellation is a last resort, she said.

"The health, safety and well-being of children remains the top priority of our government."

The company has a right to an administrative review, alternative dispute resolution or appeal.Because of that, the government cannot currently release the full list of non-compliances associated with the centre, Schulhauser said.

The child-care centre has not yet responded to a request for comment.

According to the Alberta Health Serviceswebsite, an environmental health monitoring inspection at the centre on Aug. 20 resulted in violations being cited.

The centrehad a risk-management inspection later that month and violations were corrected.

Three Calgary child-care centres were ordered to close in August, also over safety concerns.