'Frazzled and scrambling': Aurora preschool that shut abruptly expected to reopen on Oct. 25

'I felt desperate and angry,' mother says when she first learned Eh to Zed Preschool Canada location had closed

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 25, 2021
Lisa Queen

An Aurora preschool that abruptly closed and left parents “frazzled and scrambling” for child care is expected to reopen on Monday, the company CEO said in a message to parents.

Parents will receive a full refund of their October fees, CEO Shadi Almashni said.

On the evening of Oct. 19, Eh to Zed Preschool Canada began receiving emails from concerned parents regarding an email they had received from the franchisee of the Aurora campus on 108 Hollidge Blvd., northwest of Bayview Avenue and Wellington Street East, according to Almashni.

“Despite both the landlord’s and franchisor’s efforts to support (the franchisee) throughout the pandemic, she has abruptly decided to close the site without notice to head office, families, staff and landlord,” Almashni said in an email to parents and guardians, which The Aurora Banner and yorkregion.com has a copy of.

“Unfortunately, (the franchisee) has taken the wrong route, leaving parents and staff counting on daycare to be left frazzled and scrambling.”

Eh To Zed Preschool Canada’s head office will take over the site and is working with officials from the Ministry of Education, which licenses the centre, to expedite the changeover, Almashni said.

The franchisee could not be reached for comment.

A mother of a child at the preschool, who did not want to be identified, was upset when she received an initial after-hours email from the Aurora preschool saying the centre was closing immediately and fees wouldn’t be refunded.

“I felt desperate and angry at the same time, but I don’t have time to focus on my feelings since we need to find a solution fast,” she said, adding her child loves the teachers there.

The mother is pleased to hear the centre intends to reopen but added that some parents are concerned about next steps.

While the daycare remains closed for the remainder of the week, which Almashni acknowledged is a “major disruption,” it is expected to reopen on Oct. 25.