181 additional children in Northumberland will have access to licensed child care thanks to an expansion initiative to increase care in three high needs areas. Today, provincial, municipal and provider partners and families gathered at the new Canton YMCA Child Care Centre in Port Hope – the last of four new child care facilities to open this year – to mark this major milestone in Northumberland County’s plan to increase access to quality, affordable child care for families.
The expansion, delivered in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, local municipalities, and child care providers, includes the completion of four new child care centres in Port Hope, Trent Hills, and Cobourg. With the addition of these spaces, along with 10 new spaces in Brighton in 2023, and 35 existing spaces converted to the new funding model, the County is well on its way to achieving the provincially-set 2026 target of 245 additional child care spaces funded under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program.
The four new centres include:
· Canton YMCA Child Care Centre: 49 new child care spaces, anticipated to open end-September, 2025, located at 5325 County Rd 10, Port Hope – operated by YMCA Northumberland.
· Ganaraska Child Care – Riverside site: 70 new child care spaces, opened January 2, 2025, located at the former Ruth Clarke Activity Centre at 81 Mill Street South, Port Hope – operated by Ganaraska Child Care.
· Warkworth YMCA Child Care Centre: 47 new child care spaces, opened January 13, 2025, located at 161 Old Hastings Road, Warkworth – operated by YMCA Northumberland.
· Cobourg East YMCA Child Care Centre: 15 new child care spaces, opened January 20, 2025, located at the Northumberland Centre for Individual Studies 780 D’Arcy Street, Cobourg – operated by YMCA Northumberland
“This is a significant milestone for Northumberland County in enhancing access to affordable, high-quality childcare for local families,” says Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland—Peterborough South David Piccini. “The addition of 181 new childcare spaces reflects our shared commitment — both locally and provincially — to supporting families and early years providers. Through investments made under the CWELCC program, we are making meaningful progress toward building a more accessible childcare system for all.”
“Child care is more than a service – it is a foundation that allows families to thrive and communities to grow,” says Warden Brian Ostrander. “With 181 new spaces across Northumberland County, we are taking a significant step toward our goal of 245 new spaces by 2026. This expansion will make a real difference for families who have been waiting for access to the high-quality, inclusive child care they deserve.”
Local leadership also played a critical role in making these spaces available. “In Port Hope, we recognized that one of the best ways to respond to residents’ needs was to look inward at our own municipal facilities,” says Deputy Warden and Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “By working with the County and local child care providers to repurpose existing community spaces, we have ensured that families in our municipality have better access to child care. We know that significant need still exists and more work must be done. This collaboration between municipalities, other levels of government, and providers shows what’s possible when we work together on solutions.”
For service providers, this milestone reflects their deep commitment to children and families. “YMCA Northumberland is proud to provide nurturing, high-quality early learning opportunities that give children the best possible start in life,” says President & CEO Eunice Kirkpatrick. “This expansion would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration with the County, local municipalities, and our construction partners. These new spaces will help children thrive, while giving parents the peace of mind and support they need.”
Ganaraska Child Care also welcomes the expansion. “For many working parents, finding quality child care is one of the biggest stresses they face,” says Board Chair Tammie Staples. “These new spaces will help relieve that pressure, allowing parents to focus on work and family knowing their children are safe, supported, and learning. As both a parent and a member of this community, I know how transformative this access can be – and I am grateful to all those who made it possible.”
Today’s event was celebrated at the Canton facility, where families and children joined officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Following the celebration, officials dispersed to tour all four facilities to see the new child care spaces in action.
This initiative builds on Northumberland County’s expansion efforts in 2023 and 2024, and reflects the strong, ongoing commitment of all partners to ensure more families across Northumberland have access to the child care services they need.
Track the County’s performance in delivering on child care expansion efforts by visiting our online performance dashboard at Northumberland.ca/Dashboard.
Interested in a career in the Early Years sector? Learn more about the benefits of working in Early Years, and view a list of local job opportunities at Northumberland.ca/ECE.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
