Queen’s University has partnered with Kids & Company, a national, licensed child-care provider, to offer new child-care options to faculty and staff.

Employees are now able to take advantage of guaranteed full- or part-time child-care spaces at Kids & Company’s Kingston location with six months’ notice, as well as emergency back-up child care when other arrangements fall through.

“Queen’s is pleased to announce this partnership with Kids & Company,” says Julie Mekarski,
Director of Client Services, Human Resources. “Finding quality child care is always a concern for our employees, and this will give our faculty and staff more options.

Offering a variety of child-care services for infants through to school-aged children, Kids & Company is staffed exclusively with qualified early childhood educators and early childhood assistants. Their Kingston location (126 Wellington St.) is within walking distance of the university and offers innovative programming, nutritious meals and flexible scheduling.

The partnership also allows Queen’s employees to take advantage of an emergency back-up child-care program. For a $350 fee, Kids & Company will provide child-care services on short notice, when regular arrangements fall through. This service may be used up to 15 days per year, including during inclement weather days, school PA days and holidays. It would also be of use to employees who are travelling with their family or to conferences, as the back-up child care can be used at any Kids & Company location across Canada.

“As a national organization, Kids & Company offers our clients high-quality, flexible child-care options here in Kingston, and anywhere we have a centre,” says Robin Stockfish, Kids & Company’s representative. “If you’re travelling to Halifax, Vancouver or to points in between, we are there to help.”

Ms. Stockfish will be on campus on June 25 in the Queen’s Centre between 9 and 5 pm to provide more information and answer questions about their services. You may also call Kids & Company directly at 1-866-MY-KIDCO or visit their website for further information.