BBBAA closes after school program as it still awaits word from Witless Bay

By Mark Squibb/February 17, 2023

The Bay Bulls Bauline Athletics Association (BBBAA) has closed its afterschool program, citing loss of revenue amongst other issues.

“We were losing money, and we tired to carry it as best we could, but unfortunately, the last two or three years, we haven’t been able to have our annual auction every year that we typically have at the Lifestyle Centre,” said chairperson Scott Penney.

Furthermore, Penney said, enrollment numbers have dropped over the years, and the program had also sponsored certain children, which ate further into the revenues.

“Ten years ago, there was definitely a need, and we saw a real opportunity to provide an afterschool program,” said Penney. “But a lot of things changed in our area to make it more cost prohibitive to do that.”

Penney said one major factor has been an increase in competing after school programs, including a private childcare business and an afterschool program operating out of St. Bernard’s Elementary.

He said the regional market simply cannot sustain three afterschool programs.

“We will continue to focus on recreation, on our summer camps and day programs,” said Penney. “And unfortunately, at this point in time, the afterschool program wasn’t sustainable.”

Penney praised those other programs and said he hopes they can absorb the children who had availed of the BBBAA’s program.

“We’ve seen more private operators open up now with expanded spaces,” said Penney. “That’s a good fit and hopefully those kids can transition to some of those private operators.”

Penney added that reductions in busing routes over the last number of years has also increased the difficulty in getting students to and from the program.

The BBBAA issued notice of a closure on January 6, citing a closure date of February 3 (the BBBAA actually postponed closure of the program by about a week.)

That closure notice also cited a projected revenue deficit of $12,937 from November 1, 2022 till February 3, 2023 — a loss the association says it cannot continue to absorb.

Penney said roughly 20 to 25 kids would attend the program each day.

He added he was glad the organisation could provide employment for so many young adults over the last decade, and he believes the private market is very capable of meeting the demand.

Penney said he’s glad the program has never turned a child away.

Meanwhile, Penney sids the association is still unsure as to whether the Town of Witless Bay will continue to financially support the organization or not.

“We have no idea what the Town intends to do,” said Penney.

For years, the Town has contributed $37,000 annually to the organization. Bay Bulls also paid the same amount.

In 2021, both towns provided a boost of $13,000 each on top of those funds to help the organization deal with increased costs due to the pandemic.

Bay Bulls provided that same boost of cash in 2022, but Witless Bay denied the increase, though not unanimously. Councillors Gerard Dunne, Alex Troake, Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard, and Mayor Trevor Croft voted down the funding increase, while councillors Nancy Burke and Jacob Hayden voted in favour of it.

Troake noted at the time that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Town and the organization was set to expire in 2022, and that council would have to discuss whether they would renew it in the new year.

A motion to either approve or deny a new MOU with the organization first appeared on a public meeting agenda in early December, but it has been delayed several times since then.

The MOU was on the agenda for this most recent meeting of council, which was scheduled to be held on February 14, but that meeting was postponed until next Tuesday due to this past week’s snowstorm.

“As regards to moving forward, I don’t know what the plan is,” said Penney. “In today’s job market, a one-year or two-year option, we’re not going to be able to accept that. We appreciate it, but we are unable to accept that, because it doesn’t provide a sense of security for our employees. We have very dedicated staff, we have done tremendous work in this region, and we do recreation tasks that council now does not need to worry about… What they are getting from a $50,000 commitment is basically two full time employees to run all recreation programming, manage the winter carnival, manage Canada Day, manage hikes.”

He said that if Witless Bay chooses not to fund the organization, the BBBAA may fold operations entirely.

“The rubber will hit the road, and at the end of the day, if that’s the way they want to do it, Witless Bay will have their own recreation program and they’ll have to go out and hire their own recreation director and pay $60,000 or $70,000 and manage recreation,” said Penney. “So, it’s totally, totally their call.”

The Town of Bay Bulls has come onboard with $50,000 in annual funding.

Penney said the organization has continued to ask for $50,000 annually, noting the cost of living has increased greatly since the initial approval of $37,000 annually back in 2013.

Penney will have to wait until next Tuesday to see whether  the Town approves, denies, or delays.

“We’re pretty hopeful,” said Penny. “But as I’ve said many, many times, if the Witless Bay council decides not to approve the funding allocation for the BBBAA, then the very next morning they’re in the recreation business.”