THUNDER BAY – When several employees at the Sleeping Giant Brewing Company faced daunting child care challenges, the Thunder Bay craft brewer decided to take matters into its own hands.
The company on Friday announced plans to turn its new event location, The Barrel House, into the Sleeping Giant Child Care Centre. It’s located just down the road from the brewery’s Macdonell Street location.
Nearly half of Sleeping Giant’s staff were juggling careers and children, with limited child care options posing a challenge for many.
“There is a critical need for childcare in Thunder Bay, with some daycares posting waitlists of 800 kids or more – it’s definitely a massive socio-economic crisis," said co-owner Andrea Mulligan. "As an employer, I feel a responsibility to help staff and their partners get back to work for everyone’s well-being."
Mulligan has been a teacher for 23 years, specializing in early years. She was particularly concerned about the impact of the pandemic on women and their careers.
“Statistics are showing that during the pandemic, women are more likely to shoulder more of the load of children not going back to school or having childcare issues—forcing them out of their jobs with increasing responsibilities at home, and the overall stress of living during a pandemic.”
The new initiative will start small, operating as an unlicensed centre serving five children of brewery employees. The site currently has one Early Childhood Educator and a Recreational Therapy Educator. However, the company said it plans to expand over time to serve children from the community.
The idea was pitched to staff about one month ago, the company said.
Avery Henderson, Sleeping Giant’s long-time head brewer, is one of the employees who stands to benefit from the centre. With a two-year-old at home and another child on the way, he was worried he wouldn’t be able to continue to work his position.
“It’s definitely tough for families right now,” he said. “Finding quality childcare was challenging even before the pandemic, and once it hit we were relying heavily on our parents. But as anyone with a toddler would know, they’re exhausting, and you could see it taking a toll on everyone.”
The new child care centre will help ease that toll, he said.
“It makes things very simple and accommodates my schedule. It’s also reassuring to know exactly who is taking care of my daughter... The trust is there and the stress and anxiety is gone.”
The initiative is an example of how employers can help staff navigate the challenges of the pandemic, according to Mulligan
“The onus can’t fall on just the parents to figure this out,” she said. “As employers and contributing members of the community, let’s connect with our families and see how we can help out.”
