I strongly caution parents to really look at all their options before applying to have their children enrolled in this daycare. Shortly after applying to this daycare we were given the call that a spot became available at Preschool Canada Early Learning Academy (previously known as Dino and Kidz) and we had to decide within a couple days if we wanted the spot or it would be offered to someone else. After looking at our options we accepted the spot as we didn't want our son to be stuck having no where to attend. The staff were very pleasant and friendly during our visit and we found the same in subsequent visits afterwards as well. We were feeling very positive and excited for our son to attend this daycare. When we went into the centre to sign the papers we were told that we could not bring the papers home and we had to sign them while we were there. I wanted my fiancé to look over the papers as well but was not aloud to remove them from the building. When I explained that he wasn't there to sign the papers they said " we only need one parent's signature". The process was very rushed, we were not able to sit down with the director in a closed room as the centre was very busy and the director was rushed in and out while the papers were being signed. The paperwork was not gone over and explained to myself thoroughly and was rushed through when signing them. Looking back now I realize that this should have been a warning sign but I wanted to make sure my son was going to attend a nice daycare and was not stuck somewhere that would make him miserable daily. I should have taken the time to look over the paperwork instead of being rushed through them. I was then informed that we had to give a cheque that would have covered his first months payment in the centre. We provided the cheque as requested. We were not informed that this cheque was non-refundable. It was however written in the paperwork that I was rushed through signing and not able to read thoroughly because of the commotion within the centre and trying to focus on my child as well. Everything was moving along smoothly to our knowledge and we were preparing for our son to begin daycare in the near future at this centre. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we learned that our son could no longer attend this daycare and notified the centre immediately. When speaking to the director on the phone and explaining the entire situation I received the response "Well, the deposit is non-refundable. So you need to speak with your husband and decide what you want to do." I was very disheartened at the lack of co-operation, understanding and empathy of the director. The director did not try to help us at all or try to understand our situation at all. We were put in a very difficult position as we had to decide to make the right decision for our son and family while giving up a large sum of money (that the centre had already cashed months beforehand I might add) or to keep our son enrolled in the centre so we wouldn't lose our money. After sitting down and talking it over we decided that the money we would lose meant nothing when it came to our sons happiness and well-being. We spoke to the ministry of education as we were informed that it is a very fine line and that daycare centres were not aloud to charge a fee for putting your child on the waitlist. They explained that centres still found a way to charge families a fee for holding an available spot for their child and each centre's fee was different. As a side note most centres in the area charge a fee of $200 for the deposit...much more reasonable than the amount of money we lost, which was significantly more. We were very disappointed that we lost this money as a result of making the right decision for our son and family, but we were also upset for the other families that have gone through similar situations as we have. We know that we were not the first family this has happened to and will not be the last. After explaining that we were very disappointed in the way that this situation turned out to the centre. We were given the response "Unfortunately everyone has different experiences some negative some positive." We were informed by the director that they did everything required of them and were within the regulations and guidelines set out for them. We felt that while they may have done what was needed of them it was done in a very questionable and dishonest way. We just hope that other families can learn from our situation by being more cautious and aware of what they are signing up for with this daycare. It is hard enough for struggling families and we hope that no one else has to go through what we and obviously many other families have gone through. Despite this experience obviously being a negative one for us we have learnt a very valuable lesson, thankfully before ever sending our child to attend this daycare and hopefully can help other families in the future before this happens to them read more