The Town of Carleton Place is pleased to announce that it has received a grant of $557,356 under the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Infrastructure Fund (ELCC), as part of the Canada–Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, as well as an additional $500,899 in child care mitigation funding from the County of Lanark.
The goal of the ELCC Infrastructure Fund is to help public and not-for-profit child care providers expand access to affordable and inclusive child care in underserved communities by supporting the creation, renovation and expansion of facilities that create new licensed child care spaces.
With funding support from the Governments of Ontario and Canada, local families will benefit from 48 new licensed preschool spaces at the Carambeck municipal child care location. With support from Lanark County child care mitigation funding, the expansion project will also create 39 additional kindergarten spaces, and 45 additional school-age spaces.
“We are helping give more children the best possible start in life and making it easier for families in Carleton Place to find affordable, high-quality child care close to home,” said the Honourable Anna Gainey, Canada’s Secretary of State for Children and Youth. “In partnership with the Government of Ontario, your government’s investment will create 48 new preschool spaces, helping meet the needs of families in this growing community.”
“A vibrant community starts with strong support for our families,” said Toby Randell, Mayor of Carleton Place. “Providing reliable, local child care spaces contributes to making Carleton Place the absolute best place to live, work, and raise a family, ensuring peace of mind for Carleton Place families for generations to come.”
“Lanark County recognizes the important role licensed child care plays in supporting children, families, and strong, healthy communities. By increasing access to affordable, high-quality child care spaces for preschool, kindergarten and school-age children, this expansion will help meet the growing needs of families across the County,” said Lanark County Warden Richard Kidd.
“Preschool programming supports school readiness, social development, early literacy and communication skills, and structured routines and peer interactions contribute to children’s long-term success,” said Jennifer Barry, Strategic Operations Administrator for Carleton Place Childcare Services. “This funding will allow us to increase access to licensed child care, reduce our local waitlist, provide continuity of care in one familiar location, and assist parents returning to work or school.”
“This expansion is about more than creating additional child care spaces—it builds on the programs we offer and allows us to continue providing high-quality early learning experiences for children,” said Heather Bigras, Family and Programs Administrator for Carleton Place Childcare Services. “We’re excited to grow our team, welcome more families, and create spaces where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to learn and grow every day.”
“Families need access to affordable, high-quality child care. Our government will continue working with the federal government and our municipal partners to help give greater certainty and stability to families across Ontario,” said Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Education.
Carleton Place School Age Services currently occupy the front half of the Carambeck Community Centre, offering a nursery school program, and before and after school programming for kindergarten and school-age children up to the age of 12 years. The Town will use the grant funding to build on these existing services and provide additional child care spaces by expanding into the back half of the Carambeck location, previously occupied by the T.R. Leger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education. Increasing capacity responds to the ongoing need for high-quality inclusive child care and will provide more families with the opportunity to access care.
As part of the project, administrative offices will be relocated from the front of the building to the rear and expand from one (1) office to four (4). The new administrative area will also include a dedicated meeting room, creating additional space to support families and program administration. The expansion plans include two (2) additional kindergarten classrooms, two (2) new preschool programs, additional school-age classrooms, and additional kindergarten washrooms. In addition, new furnishings, appliances, toys and programming materials will be purchased to support the new and expanded spaces.
The expansion reflects the Town’s commitment to responding to the growing need for child care and early learning opportunities in our community. Once completed, the facility will provide additional capacity and enhanced spaces to support children at multiple stages of their early learning and school-age years.
No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides direct, tax-free support, helping about 3.5 million families, including more than six (6) million children every year. While families can use the benefit however they need, for many it significantly reduces the burden of child care expenses – in some cases, cutting them entirely thanks to federal, provincial, and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.