Our Kids Count has teamed up with the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) to open 26 new child care spaces in Thunder Bay.
The spaces are being offered out of the Our Kids Count Early Learning Centre located on McKenzie Street.
The program will provide 10 toddler spaces and 16 preschool spaces for children under four years old.
Families will have access to lower fees as part of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system.
The program is running five days a week all year round.
The program is a part of the TBDSSAB service system plan and is aimed at hitting the Ministry of Education’s goal to create 196 new licensed CWELCC spaces across the District by the end of December 2026.
“We are proud to expand our services to include high-quality, licensed child care through the Our Kids Count Early Learning Centre,” says Executive Director of Our Kids Count, Jackie Knough. “We recognize the growing need for more child care spaces in our community and are happy to help meet this need for families.”
“This program reflects our commitment to supporting children and families in Thunder Bay by providing nurturing, affordable, and inclusive early learning environments.”
Families will be enrolled at the centre through the centralized child care waitlist.
To ensure a fair process, TBDSSAB is supporting Our Kids Count with contacting families on the wait list in chronological order to offer spaces to those who have been waiting the longest.
“Access to affordable child care is the foundation of a functional society, economic stability, and engaged minds in the early years,” says TBDSSAB Board Chair Brian Hamilton. “This new program at Our Kids Count creates opportunities and peace of mind for the families of 26 children.”
“This centre not only fills a need, it does so while offering families access to affordable child care fees through the CWELCC program.”
In the coming weeks, an email will be sent through the child care registry for families to update their profile to add the Our Kids Count program to their list of preferred programs.
The Early Learning Centre soft-opened on July 8.
A grand opening is being hosted in October.
To learn more about TBDSSAB childcare, click here.
