On Friday morning, May 29, 2026, dozens of parents arrived at ProducKIDvity daycare inside The Block on Bernard Avenue in Kelowna, only to find the doors locked and RCMP present. the landlord, represented by Colliers, served a notice to quit effective May 28, 2026, leaving more than 80 families without childcare with virtually no warning.

The five‑day notice that triggered a sudden shutdown

According to the lease letter posted in the foyer on May 24, ProducKIDvity was given five days to cure alleged rent defaults, with the deadline falling on May 29. The notice cited unpaid base rent, additional rent, GST and other charges,prompting the landlord to end the tenancy. cEO Alexandra Carnio said she only learned of the notice at 5:15 a.m. on Friday via an email from Colliers, contradicting her claim that a payment of $34,000 had been sent on May 26 but was rejected.

Seventeen months of flood damage disputes behind the eviction

The eviction follows a protracted dispute that began after a building flood on December 23 , 2024. Carnio told Black Press Media that water pooled on the daycare floor, forcing repeated repairs and four flooring replacements in the Balsam classroom, which houses 25 children. She alleges Colliers refused rental abatement and declined an engineering inspection, despite the damage rendering the space unsafe under Interior Health standards.

Financial stakes: $60,000 monthly lease on a contested space

ProducKIDvity’s lease for the Bernard Avenue location reportedly exceeds $60,000 per month, a figure highlighted by Carnio as part of the broader financial pressure on the venture. The Block is one of four ProducKIDvity sites across Kelowna and West Kelowna, each licensed for a total capacity of 98 children. With the Balsam room unusable, the daycare cannot operate at full capacity, further straining revenue.

Parents left in limbo as bailiffs retrieve children’s belongings

Parents received only a brief Bright Chat message from staff before arriving to find court bailiffs asissting with the retrieval of children’s items. Many reported missing work and scrambling for alternative childcare, underscoring the immediate human impact of the landlord’s decision.

Who will fill the childcare gap for 80 families?

Carnio pledged to secure new placements for all affected families by June 1 or 2, citing a supportive local daycare community. She also announced that staff would receive a continuity‑of‑pay plan while the organization works to relocate children’s belongings by Monday. however, the exact availability of nearby spots remains unverified, and no official statements from the landlord or Colliers have been released beyond the termination notice.