Over 200 New Child-Care Spaces Coming to South Shore and Annapolis Valley

Exciting news for families in the South Shore and Annapolis Valley regions as they are set to receive more than 200 new child-care spaces. The Education and Early Childhood Development Department has announced a $5.3 million investment in three child-care operators, expanding access to quality care for children in the area.

Small World Learning Centre in Bridgewater, N.S., will be opening a second location, providing 86 new spaces. Dare to Dream in New Minas will see an increase of 78 new spaces, and Coldbrook YMCA will be adding 62 new spaces to their facility.

The expansion is part of the government’s commitment to supporting families by making child care more accessible and affordable. Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Brendan Maguire stated, “Our government is helping more Nova Scotian families find affordable child care in their communities. Investments in child care are investments in families to participate in the workforce and grow our economy.”

The new centres in New Minas and Coldbrook are expected to open this fall, while the Bridgewater location is scheduled to open in 2026 as a second location for an existing operator. This initiative is made possible through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, signed in 2021, which has already created over 6,500 new child-care spaces across the province.

In addition to the new spaces, the province is increasing funding available to operators through the Early Learning and Child Care Minor Infrastructure Program. The funding per project has been raised from $250,000 to $1 million, enabling operators to expand and enhance their facilities to accommodate more children.

Minister Maguire emphasized the importance of supporting service providers in meeting the growing demand for child care, stating, “The truth of the matter is that there’s only so many service providers, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re giving them the resources they need to expand. If they’re telling us they need more, then we’re going to have to do it.”

This significant investment in child care will not only benefit families in the South Shore and Annapolis Valley but also contribute to the overall economic growth and development of the region. With more child-care spaces becoming available, parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are in safe and nurturing environments while they work or pursue other commitments.