Hundreds of new child-care spaces being added in Halifax area, East Hants

The coat rack at a daycare centre, pictured in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Residents living in the Halifax Regional Municipality and East Hants will soon have more access to child-care spaces.

The Nova Scotia government says it’s adding 286 new spaces to the two municipalities through child-care space creation programs.

The province is providing $7.6 million to support the new spots.

“These investments are opening more access to affordable child care to help families in our fastest growing regions,” said Brendan Maguire, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, in a news release.

“By investing in child care, we invest in families to participate in the workforce and grow our economy.”

The six centres that will receive funding and be able to add spots are:

- up to 12 new spaces at ForestKids Early Learning Organization in Hammonds Plains

- up to 40 new spaces at Silver Crescent Academy in Bedford

- up to 24 new spaces at Tots Early Learning Society at the Enfield location, and up to 52 new spaces at the Lantz location

- up to 54 new spaces at Cunard Street Children’s Centre in Halifax

- up to 64 new spaces at By the Sea Early Learning in Upper Tantallon

- up to 40 new spaces at North End Community Day Care in Halifax

The province expects the new spaces will be available by March 2026.

“These new spots will be a game changer for families in the Halifax regional and East Hants municipalities, saving them thousands of dollars on child care,” said Jenna Sudds, federal minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

“We’ll continue working together with Nova Scotia to create more child-care spots, reduce wait lists and ensure every family has access to high-quality and affordable child care no matter where they live.”

More than 6,500 new child-care spaces have been created in Nova Scotia since 2021, according to a news release from the provincial government.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page