Yukon elder reopens Old Crow's daycare after 10-year hiatus

Elizabeth Kaye, 75, has given up retirement to reopen her dayhome inOld Crow the community'sonly daycare.

"I could not sit and do nothing,"shetoldCBC Yukon'sLeonardLinklateron MiddayCaf.

• LISTENto the Midday Cafinterview withElizabeth Kaye

Kaye hadbeen running the dayhome for15 years when she retired in 2005 atthe age of 65.The small fly-in community, pop. 245,then went without a daycare for 10years.

"I thought I was going to stay home and relax," she said of her retirement.

Instead shehas re-opened Trinin TsulZheh, orHome of Little Children in theGwitchin language.

The business is legally called a dayhome and not a daycarebecause itoffers child care in a private residence. Children are dropped off at a small guest housewhich is beside Kay's home in the community.

Kaye said she's delighted to again spend her time around children.

"I became very fond of the little children. Their presence just made me feel comfortable."

The dayhome has room forsix children and clients range in age from 18 months to 5 years.

Lack of daycare was'an obstacle,' says First Nation

Thelack of a daycare in Old Crow, had been causing problems for many families and also for the local First Nation.

In 2012 theTheVuntutGwitchinGovernment passed a resolution to research options for daycare in Old Crow.

I became very fond of the little children. Their presence just made me feel comfortable- Elizabeth Kaye, manager of TrininTsul Zheh

The resolution stated that "lack of child care within the community is disrupting the daily government operations," and also created "an obstacle for hiring potential VGG employees who have children."

The measure passed unanimously but didn't yield a result.

Kaye said people in thecommunity of about 300 peoplehad been copingin different ways.

"Most of the parents had home-sitters," she said. "They had theirparents or someone in the family who was unemployed took care of their children."

New building will house daycare, elders programs

In April 2014 the Yukon government announced $2.7 million in funding for a new community recreation centre in Old Crow.

The building was announced as a potential space for adaycare as well as facilities for elders, youth and a community radio station.

Kaye says she doesn't plan to move from the guest house. She says Old Crow hasenough demand for two childcare centres.

Meanwhile her sonEdward Kyikavichick is working to earn qualifications tohelp her look after the children.