A Decade of Unwavering Grief and the Fight for Daycare Safety: Eva's Legacy

Nearly a decade has passed since a horrifying tragedy ripped through the Ravikovich family, but their pain remains as raw as the day it happened. On October 8, 2014, two-year-old Eva Ravikovich was fatally struck when a vehicle crashed through the fence and into her Vaughan daycare. Now, with the somber 10-year anniversary approaching, Eva’s parents, Anna and Michael Ravikovich, stand resolute in their relentless demand for concrete safety measures to prevent such an unthinkable loss from ever happening again.

Their mission is clear and urgent: to ensure that no other family endures the shattering grief they have carried for so long.

The Ravikoviches are calling on the Ontario government to implement mandatory perimeter fencing around all daycares, establish enhanced buffer zones between facilities and potential hazards like busy roads or parking lots, and launch a public inquiry into the safety regulations governing child care centres across the province.

This isn't a new fight for them.

Following Eva's death, the family's advocacy led to the introduction of Bill 10, the Child Care Modernization Act, 2014, which aimed to improve oversight. However, they argue that crucial recommendations, particularly regarding physical safety barriers, have been woefully neglected or inadequately enforced.

“We were promised action, but where is it?” Anna Ravikovich expressed, her voice tinged with both sorrow and fierce determination, highlighting the deep frustration with what they perceive as a failure to protect the most vulnerable.

Their plea resonates with a growing chorus of advocates, including MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam and NDP leader Marit Stiles, who have amplified the family’s call for immediate change.

Wong-Tam recently championed a motion to mandate protective barriers and safety assessments for child care facilities, emphasizing the common-sense nature of these preventative measures. “It’s about protecting children, plain and simple,” she stated, underscoring the critical need for proactive legislation.

Many daycares across Ontario remain perilously close to high-traffic areas, often with only minimal or inadequate barriers to protect children from errant vehicles.

The emotional toll on the Ravikoviches is immense, yet it fuels their resolve. They carry Eva’s memory not as a burden, but as a powerful impetus to create a lasting legacy of safety, ensuring that her life and tragic death lead to a safer future for countless other children. Their fight is for Eva, and for every child deserving of a secure environment.

As the anniversary looms, the family refuses to let Eva’s story fade into the background.

They continue to push for a comprehensive overhaul of child care safety regulations, reminding the government and the public that the cost of inaction is too high. Their enduring hope is that through their pain and persistent advocacy, Eva's memory will finally catalyze the decisive action needed to safeguard Ontario's children from preventable tragedies.