Nova Scotia government announces new child-care spaces in Inverness, Canso

Children are pictured in a child-care centre. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

The Government of Nova Scotia has announced more child-care spaces in Inverness and Canso.

The province and the Strait Regional Centre for Education partnered to open the 104-space child-care centre in Inverness, which will offer programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

“Building a new child-care centre in partnership with the Inverness school means making child care convenient and affordable for families,” said Kyle MacQuarrie, MLA for Inverness, on behalf of Brendan Maguire, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The province is also partnering with the Strait Regional Centre for Education to add 18 additional child-care spaces at the Fanning Education Centre/Canso Academy in Guysborough County. Renovations to an existing classroom will create the licensed additional spaces for toddlers and preschoolers.

“By partnering with the Canso school, we’re supporting rural families who have historically faced challenges finding child care close to home,” said Greg Morrow, minister of Agriculture and MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, on behalf of Brendan Maguire, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The projects are part of provincial and federal efforts to expand access to child care. They are supported through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

Nova Scotia has signed a five-year extension on the agreements, which will be in place until March 31, 2031.

The province said it has announced more than 8,900 new childcare spaces since 2021.

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