Employees blindsided by closure of Dayspring in Bridgewater

Province wide – Members of NSGEU Local 5, employees of the Dayspring Children’s Centre, located outside of Bridgewater, have been blindsided by the sudden closure of the facility.

“This is yet another cut to critical child welfare services in rural Nova Scotia”, says Joan Jessome, President of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union.

“These are important services for some of our most vulnerable citizens – children and adolescents.”

There are 22 NSGEU members affected by the impending closure.

“It looks like child protection and welfare isn’t a priority for this government,” says Jessome.  “These cuts are in addition to another six child welfare positions that were eliminated in Barrington and Guysborough in January.” (For the NSGEU press release about cuts to child welfare positions in January click here: /?p=8198 )

The Dayspring Children’s Centre was opened first as an Adolescent Treatment Centre in 1999 as part of an initiative to enhance services for youth with mental and behavioural difficulties.

“Not only will these valuable public services be lost, but Bridgewater and its economy will be hurt by the loss of these good jobs as this government continues to cut and centralize services,” says Jessome. “The closure of this facility is bad news for everyone involved but especially those living in the Bridgewater area.”

-30-

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union represents over 30,000 women and men who provide quality public services Nova Scotians count on every day.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with NSGEU President Joan Jessome, please contact: Deedee Slye, NSGEU Communications Officer 902-424.4063 (office) 902-497-6761 (cell) dslye@nsgeu.ca