Parents allege children hit, thrown against wall at Quebec City daycare where toddlers escaped last week

Parents who used to send their children to a Quebec City daycare where three toddlers escaped and crossed a busy four-lane boulevard last week allege there have been cases of children being mistreated in the past.

CBC has learned youth protection authorities (DPJ) launched an investigation into the Jardin Enchanté daycare last spring, after a parent reported witnessing a sitting child being lifted off the ground by the arm and thrown against a wall by a daycare worker.

The investigation also looked into cases where the same woman allegedly struck at least two other children.

The director and owner of the daycare, Geneviève Côté, says no children were hit to her knowledge, but she could not recall precise details about the investigation. She also says the employee in question was fired.

"We see that nothing improved," said the mother of a child at the centre of the investigation.

She said the owners "put their head in the sand, don't take action, get rid of people who make too much noise and take advantage of the fact it's hard for parents to find daycares."

Pascale Godin, whose two sons attended the Jardin Enchanté, a private, non-subsidized daycare, says the incident on Oct. 28 is just the latest example of staff not ensuring all the children in their care are accounted for.

Last spring, a tearful child was found by his mother and a staff member pressed against the window of a door. He had been alone in a locked, darkened room for half an hour at the end of the day.

Coté confirmed the event, adding "The child was found safe."

In August, Godin says she found a girl alone in a second-storey room when the rest of the group had gone outside.

She estimates the child had been there for ten minutes. She made a complaint to the Family Ministry but then retracted it. She also withdrew a complaint she made after she says her son spent at least an hour in urine-soaked clothes.

"I felt stuck because I withdrew complaints that should have been investigated but I was too scared to lose my place, a place that was far from ideal, but it's the only one I had for my child," Godin said.

Godin says there is a "reign of fear and terror" at the daycare because parents are scared to speak up.

She's speaking publicly now because on Tuesday she found a new daycare.