By the end of 2026, the District of Muskoka will have 373 new child care spaces through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (CWELCC) with the federal government.
District officials say Muskoka Lakeland Childcare has recently been added to the list of licensed, centre-based caregivers and brought 16 new child care spaces. They say the centre is expected to open on Sept. 4 in Gravenhurst. The centre is located at 155 Church St.
The centre posted on its Facebook page on Aug. 10 that they opened the waitlist with forms to join it available online.
The district has a list of the other licensed care centres in Muskoka on its website.
They note Lakeland is the first centre brought on as part of the CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy.
“Increasing access to high quality, affordable child care is good for children, families and the economy in Muskoka,” said Heather Elliot, Director of Programs for the district. “The early learning and child care sector is the workforce that supports the workforce. It is estimated that Muskoka families accessing the CEWLCC spaces in 2023 are saving $1.5 million in child care fees. The addition of 28 community-based spaces is just the beginning and we look forward to announcing additional spaces in the coming spaces.”
The federal program is a partnership with the provincial government. By the time the 373 spaces are in place, district officials say the province expects to lower the average child care fee to $10 a day for kids under six.
“Child care is essential for young families in Muskoka, and the costs and lack of spaces have been a huge program for many,” said District Chair Jeff Lehman. “These new spaces are great news and part of the district’s plan to deliver a total of 373 badly needed new child care spaces over the next few years, with federal funding to bring the costs down to an average of $10 a day.”