On July 8, 2013, Eva Ravikovich, a 2 year old toddler died at a Vaughan unlicensed home child care. When officials arrived, there were 27 children present. According to the York Region Public Health Services, health investigators identified several health and safety infractions at the facility. A cause of death has yet to be released.
Toronto Star:Ontario Education Ministry wants daycare death lawsuit tossed
January 16, 2014
“The Ontario Education Ministry wants a Newmarket court to throw out a lawsuit it’s facing over the death of 2-year-old Eva Ravikovich at an illegal home daycare last July, arguing it’s not responsible because the business was unlicensed.”
“Eva’s parents, Vycheslav Ravikovich and Ekaterina Evtropova, announced their $3.5 million lawsuit against the Education Ministry in August, alleging government negligence was a factor in the toddler’s death.”In late August, the Education Ministry did admit that inspectors failed to respond to 25 of 448 complaints about unlicensed child cares between January 2012 and July 2013. Weeks following the death of Eva, two ministry officials were also suspended.
Toronto Star: Illegal home daycares: Eva’s grieving mother calls for more oversight in Ontario
November 26, 2013
Ekaterina Evtropova, the mother of 2 year old Eva Ravikovich who died in a Vaughan unlicensed child care, speaks for the first time since the summer news conference. Ekaterina is calling for greater oversight in Ontario’s unlicensed child care sector.
“I wake up with Eva and I go to bed with Eva. Every single minute I have her on my mind,” she said. “I don’t want anything like this to happen to any other child — to any other parents as well.” The tragic death have increased pressure on the government to update the Day Nurseries Act. Provincial ombudsman André Marin is reviewing the way the Ministry of Education oversees unlicensed care, “after the government admitted it failed to respond to 25 of 448 complaints about these businesses between January 2012 and July 2013.”
Toronto Star: Daycare crisis: Ontario inspections reveal numerous violations
November 23, 2013
“Children sleep in an airless room that is so damp, the floor is wet and the bedding is soggy.”
“An unattended toddler rides a toy car into a busy intersection and is rescued by an alarmed motorist.”
These are just some examples of scenes depicted in the provincial investigation into unlicensed child care. In the year before Eva Ravikovich died in an illegal home day care, 300,000 complaints were launched about unlicensed child care.
Statistics published on the ministry website after the death of Eva, shows 25 of 448 complaints went unanswered between January 2012 and July 18, 2013.
City News: Health hazards found at GTA daycare where girl died
September 20, 2013 (3:04)
This news report discusses the health and safety concerns that arise from the Public Health Report of the unlicensed Vaughan daycare. While unlicensed home daycares are limited to 5 unrelated children under the age of 10, the investigator found 7 day beds and 5 cribs in the home. As well, on the day of Eva Ravikovich's tragic death, there were "27 children in the main house," said Andrea Calver, coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care.
CBC News: Listeria found at Toronto daycare where child died
September 20, 2013 (2:00)
This newscast discusses the shocking details of the Public Health Report on the Vaughan unlicensed home daycare. As well, there is an interview with a parent, Alena Savitskya, who pulled her child out of the same daycare 3 days prior to Eva Ravikovich's death, claiming she came home often with diarrhea. Andrea Calver, coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care discusses the operator's intention to open a new daycare next door, showing their lack of understanding the depth of these health and safety issues.
Global News: Listeria and poor sanitation found in Vaughan daycare where toddler died
September 20, 2013 (2:13)
The Public Health Report of the unlicensed home daycare in Vaughan presents as a "real public health disaster" said Andrea Calver, coordinator of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care. This clip discusses the information made available through the report, requested through Freedom of Information by the OCBCC. As well it discusses the role of the Ministry of Education, who investigated only one of five complaints previously made regarding the illegal Vaughan daycare.
CTV News: Listeria found at daycare
September 20, 2013 (4:10)
In this news clip, Patrick Brown, lawyer to the parents of Eva Ravikovich, discusses the Public Health Report of the illegal Vaughan daycare and the family’s reaction to the disturbing news. He discusses the need to examine the way we regulate and follow up with daycares. Andrea Calver, coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, says the “Ministry (of Education) dropped the ball,” it was a “preventable death” in reference to the complaints against the daycare that were not followed up on.
The Huffington Post: Diapers, dogs, listeria found at daycare where tot died: public health report
September 20, 2013
Many violations were found when York Public Health inspected the illegal home daycare in Vaughan, following the death of Eva Ravikovich in July. The presence of a dangerous bacteria Listeria, as well as improper sanitization and garbage containment were found in the home. Andrea Calver, coordinator for the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care says the unlicensed daycare is “a public health nightmare”, and the province should license all home daycares.
CTV News: Listeria found in food at Ontario daycare where toddler died
September 20, 2013
The presence of Listeria, a potentially deadly bacterium, in a chicken stew that was served to the children, is possibly the most shocking detail found in the York Region Public Health Report from the illegal Vaughan home daycare. The report also states the presence of expired food, improper hand washing system, and sanitized toys. Since the death of toddler Eva Ravikovich, the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care made a Freedom of Information request, to access the report. They now call upon the Provincial government for licensing all child cares.
Global News: Listeria and poor sanitation discovered at Ontario daycare where toddler died
September 20, 2013
After the Ministry of Education failed to follow up on complaints made against the illegal Vaughan daycare, the unfortunate death of toddler Eva Ravikovich lead to a public health inspection. The report has been released through a Freedom of Information request. It describes many sanitation concerns found in the home, including the presence of Listeria. These new details raise many questions, as the family has been told the child’s death was preventable.
CP24: Listeria found in daycare where toddler died
September 20, 2013
While the cause of death has not been determined in the death of toddler Eva Ravikovich, a Public Health report describes the unsanitary conditions found in the unlicensed home daycare the following day. Through a freedom of information request, the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care received documents that detail the presence of Listeria on three different food items collected by Public Health.
Toronto Star: Listeria found at Vaughan daycare where tot died
September 20, 2013
The Toronto Star reports the findings of the York Public Health report from the unlicensed home daycare in Vaughan, which was retrieved by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care through a freedom of information act.
CBC News: License all home daycares, Sudbury operator says
August 23, 2013
Sudbury child care operator and past president of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Tracy Saarikoski says “parents need more information about complaints about unlicensed day cares”. Sarrikoski noted that the coalition has filed a requested under the Freedom of Information for “the dates, operator, circumstances and amounts fined for anyone convicted under the Day Nurseries Act”.
Toronto Star: Education Ministry admits it failed to answer four complaints about Vaughan daycare
August 16, 2013
The Ontario Ministry of Education has once again failed to inspect unlicensed child care centres. Their records show that between Jan 1, 2012 to July 12, 2013 they have received 448 complaints, yet only responded to 25 of them. 4 of these complaints included unanswered complaints from a unlicensed child care centre in Vaughan where 2 year old Eva Ravikovich died only July 8, 2013.
Ministry of Education Statement: Minister of Education’s Update on Unlicensed Child Care Review
August 16, 2013
Liz Sandals releases this statement following the review of unlicensed child care complaints of 2012 to date. Sandals admit that 25 of 448 complaints had not been followed up with a site visit. Sandals states that all unaddressed complaints will be followed up.
Brampton Guardian: Toddler's parents launch daycare lawsuit
August 9, 2013
This article includes updated facts on the on the unlicensed child care as well as the lawsuit against the child care, including the number of children enrolled at the child care being 35 and the names of the listed owners and operators.
City News: Parents of girl who died at Vaughan daycare launch $3.5M lawsuit
August 8, 2013
This video includes Eva Ravikovich’s mother Ekaterina Evtropva and lawyer Patrick Brown speaking after details of the suit were released. They discuss the case as well as the purpose for the lawsuit.
CBC News: Vaughan daycare victim's mom wants more tragedies prevented
August 8, 2013
This article discusses new details about the unlicensed child care, including parents being shown false documentation about being a licensed child care. A video is included that features the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care’s Andrea Calver.
MSN News: Vaughan daycare victim died of 'serious injuries', lawsuit claims
August 8, 2013
This article discusses details of Eva Ravikovich’s death, including that she may have suffered from serious injuries. This article includes quotes from the victim’s mother.
Yahoo News Canada: Toddler’s death in unlicensed Ontario daycare spurs call for affordable childcare
August 8, 2013
This is a summary of the recent tragic Canadian unlicensed child care stories and a call to regulate unlicensed home child care. The article includes a video clip of Eva Ravikovich’s mother speaking about the death of her daughter in an unlicensed child care.
Toronto Sun: Parents of dead girl suing daycare, Ontario government
August 7, 2013
The parents of Eva Ravikovich are suing the child care providers as well as the Ontario government for 3.5 million.
Global News: Parents of child who died at daycare to launch $3.5 million lawsuit
August 7, 2013
This link includes a video of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care’s Andrea Calver, on The Morning Show to discuss what parents should look for in a good daycare. An article discussing Eva Ravikovich’s parents’ plan to sue the Ontario government as well as the child care operator is also included.
Toronto Star Editorial: Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals is promising an online database showing bad daycares
August 2, 2013
This article is a major reversal for the Ministry of Education who will now provide information on unlicensed child care providers who exceed the number of children allowed.
CBC News: Vaughan daycare victim ‘painfully missed’ by parents
August 2, 2013
A video and article discusses a parent interview with another family that was enrolled in the daycare that allege the owner asked her to wait to pick up her children because they were transferred to another house that she did not want the police to know about.
Toronto Star: Parents had no idea daycare had too many kids
August 2, 2013
This article gives an inside look to the unlicensed Vaughan home child care where Eva Ravikovich died.
Toronto Star: No privacy concerns in releasing daycare complaints
August 1, 2013
Ontario’s privacy commissioner says there are no privacy concerns that would prevent the government from releasing complaints against unlicensed daycares to the public.
Toronto Star: Heartbroken parents of daycare victim, Eva Ravikovich touched by support
August 1, 2013
This article discusses Eva Ravikovich’s parents’ grief and their thankfulness for the support they have received.
Global News: Fundraiser set up for family of toddler found dead in Vaughan daycare
August 1, 2013
This article and video discusses the death of Eva Ravikovich, a toddler found dead in a Vaughan unlicensed daycare, and the fundraising efforts to assist in paying for her funeral.
Toronto Sun: Tot who died at Vaughan daycare identified
August 1, 2013
This article announces the identification of a toddler who died at an licensed Vaughan daycare as two year old, Eva Ravikovich.
CTV News: 9 complaints against unlicensed daycares went unanswered, Ont. Liberals say
July 19, 2013
This article + video discuss the uninvestigated complaints towards the Vaughan unlicensed home daycare where a toddler died on July 8, 2013.
Toronto Star: Unlicensed daycare complaints kept secret in Ontario
July 19, 2013
An excellent summary – includes Ministry of Education argument that parents file access to information requests, the Ombudsman investigation and quotes from the Canadian Child Care Federation and OCBCC.
CityNews: Two Education Ministry Staffers Suspended in Vaughan Daycare Death
July 16, 2013
This article confirms the suspension of two education ministry staffers following a toddler’s death in a Vaughan unlicensed child care
CBC News: Ombudsman to probe complaints against unlicensed daycares
July 15, 2013
The Ombudsman launches a probe into complaints of unlicensed child care following the toddler’s death in Vaughan July 8, 2013.
Toronto Star: Ontario child care review needed in wake of tot's death
July 12, 2013
This article discusses the provincial policy needed to increase licensed child care. Includes a quote from Andrea Calver of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and includes the personal story of parents worried about finding quality child care.
CBC’s “The National” : Daycare Questions
July 12, 2013
Features clips with Andrea Calver, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and Jane Mercer, Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care.
Global News: Calls for Ombudsman to Probe Daycare Policies
July 12, 2013
Video of the Vaughan home and interview with Andrea Calver, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
Toronto Star: Ontario needs to review inadequate day care policies: Editorial
July 12, 2013
Toronto Star- the Toronto Star talks about the fact that we have an inadequate child care system. Women have been in the workforce for four decades and we still do not have a reliable child care system in Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Education should take action to (finally) create a system that works for the majority of children and their families. They deserve nothing less, 80% of children in Ontario are placed in unlicensed child care.
Global News: Calls for ombudsman to probe daycare policies
July 12, 2013
This article discusses the current unlicensed child care system and what needs to be reviewed, plus a video.
Toronto Sun: Liberals Dropped the Ball Where Tot Died: Hudak
July 12, 2013
This article discusses how the daycare system failed in the incident of a toddler’s death in an unlicensed day care. It includes a quote from Tim Hudak.
Toronto Star: Ombudsman to Probe Vaughan Daycare Death
July 12, 2013
CTV News (video): Ombudsman should probe daycare policies: NDP
July 12, 2013
Local 2 Sault Ste. Marie: NDP calls for Ombudsman to investigate toddler's death in unlicensed daycare
July 12, 2013,
This article includes a letter from the NDP calling for an investigation by Ontario’s ombudsman into the treatment of complaints about unlicensed child care operators.
National Post: Complaints against Vaughan daycare where toddler died not properly followed up: Ontario education minister
July 12, 2013
The article focuses on complaints made to the Ministry of Education that were not investigated by the Ministry. Minister Sandals is quoted in a statement saying: “This is a tragedy that no parent should have to experience and my heart goes out to the loved ones of this child.”
CBC News: Ombudsman should probe daycare death, says NDP
July 12, 2013
CBC News- CBC News reports on the death of a toddler in a Vaughan child care. More information has come out on the fact that there were three complaints lodged against this child care but two out of these 3 complaints were not investigated by the ministry. “2 out of 3 complaints lodged against Vaughan facility went unanswered by ministry”
The Home Child Care Association of Ontario, which represents licensed home daycare agencies, said the governing Liberals should require all childcare providers to meet minimum licensing standards.
Toronto CBC Metro Morning Runs two feature interviews, Audio files
July 12, 2013
Interview with Home Child Care Providers – Erin Ramsay runs Yogi Daycare, which is unlicensed, from her home. Kerri Embrey, a teacher, has two children who have gone to an unlicensed home day care for years.
Listen (runs 9:38)
Ontario Childcare System Review - Some day care advocates are calling for a full review of Ontario's childcare system. Matt talked to Martha Friendly. She's the Director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit in Toronto.
Listen (runs 7:03)
CBC News: Child's death raises private daycare questions
July 11, 2013
CBC News - After a child’s death in Vaughan many questions are being raised about private Day Care. There is a huge demand for child care and there is very little government oversight for private child care and "The majority of child care in this country is being done in unregulated unmonitored, unlicensed, environments,” he said. “Until somebody says something is wrong, there's no mechanism that's going to stop them. There's no daycare policy that are going to shut you down unless there's a formal complaint."
York Region News: Coroner to investigate child's death at Vaughan daycare
July 11, 2013
Article focuses on health and safety violations in the home.