French is for sure an issue in Ottawa. Not only do French speaking parents want French daycare but English parents are opting for bilingual care with the belief that their child will learn both languages and especially if they plan to put them into French Immersion school. I am English only and my French is limited to what I learned in high school and a few more words picked up along the way. I do know I have lost lots of kids because of my English only situation.

Is there the possibility that it is the area of the city you live in in the sense that some areas have a larger French base than others - I am in Orleans. Not sure where is best but is moving to a different area of the city an option for you.

How well do you know the caregiver down the street? If she is full and turning people away there may be other reasons besides the French. Is she approachable in the sense of talking to her about your situation and see if she has some pointers. Maybe she knows some other things that parents in the area are looking for - does it matter if playroom is main floor or basement, amount of outside time, taking kids on outings, etc. Try to find out what it is about her program that is attractive to parents.

What would you have to do to upgrade your ECE to current standards. Is it worth going back to school. I also took mine at a time when practicums were not a major part of the program and it was all book learning for the most part so while the knowledge is there my practical is what I have learned since I took my ECE so I totally understand what you mean by the ECE concerns.