Region of Waterloo looking for new spaces for child-care

On the heels of a decision to look for regionally-owned lands and buildings that could be used for housing, the Region of Waterloo is now also exploring whether any could be used for new child-care centres.

On the heels of a decision to look for regionally-owned lands and buildings that could be used for housing, the Region of Waterloo is now also exploring whether any could be used for new child-care centres.

At a committee meeting Tuesday, councillors approved a recommendation from staff to consider using regionally owned buildings, lands and housing developments to create more non-profit child-care spaces.

Staff will also consult with area municipalities, school boards, universities, colleges and hospitals to see if they have buildings that could be used.

“Last session we made a motion to look at all regional land through a housing lens, and now I can also see that we need to include the child-care lens looking at all our buildings,” Coun. Pam Wolf said.

The region currently has child-care spaces for only 32 per cent of kids under four years old – 9,200 children are waitlisted, according to a staff report.

The region’s director of children’s services, Barb Cardow said the waitlist has grown by 115 per cent since the announcement of $10-a-day child-care in 2022.

“There has always been a shortage of childcare, however many people did not even consider licenced child-care because, in most cases, they just felt they couldn’t afford it. Now that it’s more affordable, that has increase the demand,” Cardow told council.