Westport, Ont. daycare forced to close amid investigation

An eastern Ontario daycare was forced to close after accusations of abuse and concerns over staff conduct. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

A daycare in Westport, Ont. has had its licence temporarily suspended after a protection order was issued by the Ministry of Education following an inspection launched in response to allegations of abuse, employee conduct and prohibited practices.

Westport Daycare on Perth Road was ordered to close by the ministry and to stop providing care to children on May 30.

The Ministry of Education received a complaint last week and conducted an inspection that “identified several prohibited practices and non-compliances.”

“The centre will remain closed until the ministry confirms that all requirements have been met and Westport Daycare can demonstrate it can safely care for children,” said Emma Testani, press secretary to the Minister of Education.

The report alleges the “licensee has permitted inflicting bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will” and “permitted depriving a child of basic needs including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or bedding.”

The report stated educators were instructed to keep children on their cots “even if it means physically restraining them.”

“The educator disclosed that they all use their hands and arms to hold the children on their beds.”

The report identified several prohibited practices and non-compliances.

One of the alleged incidents reported was that a staff member was observed “placing a child in a highchair as a form of discipline, force feeding a child with a spoon, and taking away their lunch.”

“On the second day of the inspection it was observed there were three separate incidents when children were left unsupervised” on previous dates and wasn’t documented.

In an email to families, Jennifer Seward, the daycare’s assistant director, wrote that “we feel that this all came to light due to a disgruntled employee or ex-employee.”

“We have missed some documentations and paperwork that were required, but the information that ‘an educator disclosed’ is based on hearsay information only,” Seward wrote. “A lot of our families have been with us for many years and clearly know that we all have a huge love for all your children and would never deprive or harm any child.”

The lawyer representing the daycare said it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

“At Westport Daycare, the well-being of children has always been top priority for the past 16 years. The recent Ministry report includes allegations that are troubling and untrue,” Carley Reynolds said in a statement. “Westport Daycare stands by their team, remains committed to transparency, high standards, and the trust that families place in them every single day.”

CTV News spoke with parents who have or had children at the daycare.

A parent who didn’t want to be identified said she spoke with former staff members who told her that her child had been pinned down at nap time.

“It makes me mad, it infuriates me,” she said. “They’re just kids. You think you’re sending your kid somewhere safe when you’re at work and you’re expecting these people to care for your children.”

A before and after-school program is also operated by Westport Daycare out of a local school. It is not affected by the main site’s closure and is operating as usual.

Ontario Provincial Police says its aware of the investigation by the ministry but that it has not been asked to conduct an investigation of its own at this time.

Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville said it cannot comment on specific cases.

“In accordance with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and the Ontario Child Protection Standards, children’s aid societies conduct institutional, community caregiver investigations when maltreatment allegations are received that meet the eligibility for a child protection investigation, and these would include day-care settings,” executive director Erin Lee Marcotte said in a statement. “The Society has 45 to 60 days to conclude our investigation, although depending on circumstances, departures can be issued.”