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Early Learning & Child Care Space Creation Progress

We’re creating more child care spaces across the Province

We are working hard to increase access to early learning and child care spaces for more children and families across the Province. Our long term vision is that all children and families have access to high-quality, affordable early learning and child care.

We’re steadily working to create new licensed early learning and child care spaces across Nova Scotia. We’re creating a mix of infant, toddler, preschool spaces and before and after school spaces.

By the end of 2026, we plan to have created a total of 9,500 new spaces. Visit this page regularly for updates on our progress.

Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Space Creation Summary

Under the Nova Scotia-Canada Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Nova Scotia has committed to creating 9,500 new early learning and child care spaces in licensed centres, licensed family homes, and the NS Before-and-After Program, by March 31, 2026.

The below table summarizes spaces that have opened, by program type, since July 13, 2021.

 Spaces Opened
Program Type2021-2023(1)2023-20242024-2025
July 13, 2021 -
March 31, 2023
Q1
Apr 1 - Jun 30
Q2
Jul 1 - Sep 30
Q3
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Q4
Jan 1 - Mar 31
Q1
Apr 1 - Jun 30
Q2
Jul 1 - Sep 30
Q3
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Q4
Jan 1 - Mar 31
Licensed child care centres377310302108200348   
Licensed family homes546100150108198120   
NS Before-and-After Program (NSBAP)768080428826441   
Total 16914101256504662509   
Cumulative Total169121013357386145235032   

Notes:
(1) 2021 to 2023 covers the time period from July 13, 2021 (when Nova Scotia signed the Canada-Nova Scotia Wide Agreement) to March 31, 2023.

Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Space Closure Summary

Spaces fluctuate when third-party operators make decisions about their child care centres (e.g. selling the business, retiring, or reducing their licensed capacity).

The below table summarizes spaces that have closed, by program type, since July 13, 2021.

 Spaces Closed (represented as a negative value)
Program Type2021-2023(1)2023-20242024-2025
July 13, 2021 -
March 31, 2023
Q1
Apr 1 - Jun 30
Q2
Jul 1 - Sep 30
Q3
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Q4
Jan 1 - Mar 31
Q1
Apr 1 - Jun 30
Q2
Jul 1 - Sep 30
Q3
Oct 1 - Dec 31
Q4
Jan 1 - Mar 31
Licensed child care centres-413-38-20000   
Licensed family homes-433-7-78-42-72-84   
NS Before-and-After Program (NSBAP)000000   
Total -846-45-98-42-72-84   
Cumulative Total-846-891-989-1031-1103-1187   

Notes:
(1) 2021 to 2023 covers the time period from July 13, 2021 (when Nova Scotia signed the Canada-Nova Scotia Wide Agreement) to March 31, 2023.

Expansion Project Updates

Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Centres

Operator

Community (County)

Description

Spaces (range)

Anticipated Opening*

Bayers Westwood Day Care CentreHalifax (Halifax)Renovation

1-10

TBD 2024

Centre de la Petite Enfance de la Rive-SudCookville (Lunenburg)Renovation

17

Open

Cumberland YMCA Early Learning CentreOxford (Cumberland)New Location

18

Open

Cumberland YMCA Early Learning CentrePugwash (Cumberland)New Location

41-50

TBD 2024 - Partial Opening Summer
Cunard Street Children's CentrePeninsula (Halifax)Renovation

10

Open

Dartmouth Day Care CentreDartmouth East (Halifax)Renovation

31-40

Open

Dr. Jane Norman Child Study CentreTruro (Colchester)Renovation

12

Open

Dr. Jane Norman Child Study Centre – Douglas StreetTruro (Colchester)New Location

35

Open

Dr. Jane Norman Child Study Centre – Infant CentreTruro (Colchester)New Location

10

Open

East Preston Day Care CentreEast Preston (Halifax)Renovation

38

Open

East Preston Day Care Centre – 1016 Main StreetEast Preston (Halifax)New Location

51-60

Open

Edward Jost Children's CentreSpryfield (Halifax)New Location

90

Open

Edward Jost Children's Centre AnnexSpryfield (Halifax)Renovation

10

Open

First Lake Early Learning Centre SocietyLower Sackville (Halifax)Renovation

1-10

Open

La P'tite Academie SocieteChurch Point (Digby)Renovation

18

Open

Le Jardin des PetitsTusket (Yarmouth)Renovation

10

Open

Le Jardin des PetitsWedgeport (Yarmouth)New Location

21-30

2024

Learning Grove Child Care CentreDigby (Digby)New Location

1-10

Spring 2024 - Project Under Review

Little People's Place of Shelburne AssociationSt. Andrews, Shelburne (Shelburne)Renovation

4

Open

Little People's Place of Shelburne AssociationKing St., Shelburne (Shelburne)New Location

32

Open

Lower Onslow Playschool AssociationLower Onslow (Colchester)Renovation

16

Open

Lower Sackville Nursey SchoolLower Sackville (Halifax)Renovation

24

Open

Maritime Muslim AcademyAntigonish (Antigonish)New Location

21-30

TBD 2024

Maritime Muslim AcademyClayton Park (Halifax)New Location

104

Open

Maritime Muslim AcademyWolfville (Kings)New Location

21-30

TBD 2024

Maritime Muslim Academy PreschoolPeninsula (Halifax)Renovation

21

Open

Munro Academy Early Learning CentreSydney Mines (Cape Breton)Renovation

69

Open

Needham Early Learning CentreNorthend Halifax (Halifax)Renovation

10

Open

Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood EducatorsClayton Park (Halifax)New Location

86

Winter 2024-2025

Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood EducatorsPort Hawkesbury (Inverness)New Location

44

Open

Papillons & PissenlitsPubnico (Yarmouth)Renovation

2

Open

Playschool Day Care CentreNew Waterford (Cape Breton)Renovation

21-30

TBD 2024

Taigh Cùraim Day Care SocietyIngonish (Victoria)New Location

21-30

2024

Taigh Cùraim Day Care SocietyBaddeck (Victoria)Renovation

30

2024

Taigh Cùraim Day Care SocietyBay St. Lawrence (Victoria)New Location

11-20

2024

The Fox & The Hare DaycareLockeport (Shelburne)Renovation

1-10

TBD 2024

Through the Years Day Care & Community CentreHubbards (Lunenburg)Renovation

16

Open

Town Daycare CentreGlace Bay (Cape Breton)Renovation

11-20

Fall 2024

Whitney Pier Day Care CentreSydney (Cape Breton)Renovation

28

Open

Windsor Day Care CentreWindsor (Hants)Renovation

24

Open

Windsor Day Care CentreWindsor (Hants)New Location

30

Open

Windsor Nursey SchoolWindsor (Hants)Renovation

20

Open

YMCA of Cape BretonSydney (Cape Breton)Renovation

11-20

Open

YMCA of Cape Breton – the Cove Long Term Care HomeSydney (Cape Breton)New Location

41-50

2024

YMCA Early Learning & Childcare CentreGuysboroughNew Location

21-30

Open

YMCA HalifaxFall River (Halifax)New Location

85

Open

YMCA NSCC Waterfront CampusSydney (Cape Breton)New Location52Open
YMCA of PictouPictou (Pictou)New Location

41-50

2024

YMCA QueensLiverpool (Queens)Renovation

61-70

Open in 2024

YMCA of Southwest Nova ScotiaBridgewater (Lunenburg)Renovation

1-10

TBD 2024

YWCA Early Learning & Childcare CentreTatamagouche (Colchester)New Location

21-30

TBD 2024

*Anticipated timeframes are subject to change based on typical construction risks and delays.