The abrupt closure of a local daycare has left local parents scrambling to find other child care options for their youngsters.

Pat Living is a Department of Health and Social Services spokeswoman.

She said Monday the owner of Cheeky Monkey’s Daycare, which opened its doors in 2012, informed the department it would shut down late last week.

Living would not speak to the reasons for the sudden closure.

She said those would be a matter for Andi Worden, the owner of the business, to address.

Living did emphasize the department had no issues nor safety concerns with the daycare and that it was the owner’s decision to close it.

Parents were informed of the immediate closure last Friday.

The Star’s calls to the daycare for an explanation, and whether parents who paid in advance can expect refunds, were not returned.

Due to the short notice about the closure, the department called other child care providers in Whitehorse.

Staff have put together a list of facilities and the number of spaces available for parents of the more than 50 children who were attending Cheeky Monkey’s either part-time or full-time.

The department is also offering to assist parents who had already paid their monthly rate at Cheeky Monkey’s and are now facing another child care bill if they are able to find a day care or day home spot for their child.

Living said anyone in that situation who needs assistance with the additional child care costs should contact the territory’s child care services branch at 667-3492.