Vaughan daycare victim's mom wants more tragedies prevented

The mother of a toddler who died last month at an unlicensed daycare in Vaughan, Ont., wants to ensure the Ontario government better regulates childcare facilities to prevent similar tragedies from happening.

"I do not want it to happen to any other parent, to any other family, to any other kid," said Ekaterina Evtropova, adding she would not wish the loss on her worst enemy.

• Unlicensed daycares operate free from oversight
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Evtropova and Vyacheslav Ravikovich filed a $3.5 million lawsuit against the facility's operators and the Ministry of Education, claiming two-year-old Eva Ravikovich died thanks to an unlicensed daycare owners' negligence and the ministry's inefficiency at investigating prior complaints against the facility.

Two-year-old Eva Ravikovich diedJuly 8at a Vaughan-area home functioning as a private daycare. Eva attended the daycare for about a year, said Ekaterina, and the couple chose the facility after recommendations from several people.

The law requires unlicensed facilities not care for more than five children under the age of 10 simultaneously. However, Evas daycare held 27 kids on July 8 the day Eva was found dead.

"Eva suffered serious injuries and died. Before Eva died she sustained pain and suffering, a loss of enjoyment of life," reads the document.

Eva was in good health the morning before she died when the daycare's shuttle service picked her up, said Evtropova.

The lawsuit outlines a number of concerns about how the daycare operated, including failing to:

• Provide a clean, sanitary and safe environment.
• Employ qualified staff.
• Maintain proper child to staff ratios.
• Properly store food and drink to prevent contamination, infection and illness.

Their concerns about the facility, which has since been shut down due to numerous health infractions, seem to be shared by parents of other children formerly under the facilitys care.

CBCs Travis Dhanraj spoke withsome parents who said the owner lied to them about the daycare being fully licensedand showed them false documentation.

Police have not yet released the toddlers cause of death. However, the familys lawyer said information from the coroners office that Eva's death was "100 per cent preventable" allowed the Ravikovichs to proceed with the lawsuit.