TBDSSAB Announces 118 New Licensed Child Care Spaces for Thunder Bay District

THUNDER BAY — The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board will support the creation of 118 new licensed child care spaces in 2026, expanding access for families in Thunder Bay and Terrace Bay through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program.

The new spaces are part of a broader Ministry of Education target to create 196 new licensed CWELCC spaces across the District of Thunder Bay between 2024 and 2026. The expansion is aimed at reducing pressure on families looking for affordable, regulated child care while supporting parents and guardians who are working, training or pursuing education.

New Child Care Spaces Planned for Thunder Bay and Terrace Bay

TBDSSAB says it has partnered with three organizations to deliver the 118 spaces this year.
The Nanabijou Child Care Program in Thunder Bay is expected to add 72 spaces, supported by approximately $1.33 million in annual CWELCC funding and about $1.26 million in expansion funding.

The Métis Nation of Ontario Child Care Centre in Thunder Bay is expected to add 32 spaces, with about $661,644 in annual CWELCC funding and $500,000 in expansion funding.
Brass Bell Family Resource Centre in Terrace Bay is expected to add 14 spaces, with about $302,772 in annual CWELCC funding.

In total, the three projects represent approximately $2.29 million in annual CWELCC funding and $1.76 million in expansion funding from sources administered by TBDSSAB on behalf of federal and provincial governments.

Child Care Expansion Builds on Previous Growth

The new 2026 spaces follow earlier expansion across the district. According to TBDSSAB, 52 spaces were added in 2024 by existing licensed child care programs, while 26 spaces were added in 2025 through a new program at Our Kids Count.

With the 2026 expansion, TBDSSAB says its service agreements will increase from 25 licensed child care service providers at 52 program locations to 26 providers at 55 locations.

As of January 2026, there were 1,503 children in CWELCC spaces across the district.

Patty Hajdu Says Child Care Supports Families and the Economy

Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu, who is also the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, said affordable child care is tied directly to economic growth.

“Affordable child care is an economic tool that helps communities grow. When parents can find good, reliable child care, they can work, train, or build a business,” Hajdu said. “That helps families earn more and helps the whole province stay competitive. In Thunder Bay, lower fees are saving families thousands of dollars and keeping more people in the workforce. We will keep working with partners to protect and expand these spaces so every child can learn, and every family can plan for a strong future.”

Ontario Education Minister Says Families Will Have More Options

Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said the additional licensed child care spaces will help families access safe and supportive early learning.

“Families in Thunder Bay will soon have more child care options, with 118 new spaces opening this year,” Calandra said. “Providing more access to high-quality, affordable child care helps children get the start they need to prepare for their first years of school and gives parents the security knowing their kids are in safe supportive spaces.”

Local Providers Welcome the New Spaces

Marcia Arpin, executive director of Nanabijou Childcare Centre, said the organization is ready to help expand child care access in Thunder Bay. “The Board of Directors and staff of Nanabijou Childcare Centre are excited to be part of offering more child care spaces to the city of Thunder Bay,” Arpin said.

Margaret Froh, president of the Métis Nation of Ontario, said the investment will help Métis families access culturally appropriate early learning. “High-quality child care is essential to building strong families and resilient communities,” Froh said. “The Métis Nation of Ontario is proud to work with the Government of Canada and the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board to create child care spaces, increasing opportunities for Métis families to access culturally appropriate, high quality early learning. This investment will support not only children’s development, but also the economic well-being of parents and the broader community.”

Colleen Kjellman, executive director of Brass Bell Family Resource Centre, said the Terrace Bay project responds to a local need.

“Brass Bell Family Resource Centre is pleased to collaborate with Community Partners to address the need for a Licensed Child Care Centre in Terrace Bay,” Kjellman said.

TBDSSAB Says Workforce Development Remains Key

Crystal Simeoni, TBDSSAB’s director of integrated social services, said the new spaces will give families more stability. “When children have safe, nurturing places to learn and grow, parents and guardians can pursue work, education, and community engagement with greater peace of mind,” Simeoni said. “These new spaces reflect our collective commitment to investing in our families and building a brighter future together.”

What CWELCC Means for Families

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program is designed to lower child care fees for parents and guardians of children under six, increase licensed child care spaces and support the child care workforce.

TBDSSAB says CWELCC has reduced child care fees across Ontario to $22 a day or less as of January 2025. The program is funded by the federal and provincial governments and administered locally by TBDSSAB.

The federal government has also provided infrastructure funding to help service system managers create new licensed CWELCC spaces.

ECE Recruitment and Retention Part of the Plan

TBDSSAB says it issued an expression of interest in June 2025 to support an equitable process for expanding not-for-profit licensed child care spaces across the district.

The board has also partnered with Confederation College to support recruitment and retention of early childhood educators. In 2025, TBDSSAB awarded $107,000 in bursaries to 39 first-year and 34 second-year students in the early childhood education program.

The Fast Track ECE Program had 11 graduates in 2025, with another 15 students registered for January 2026.

Why It Matters in Northwestern Ontario

For Thunder Bay and communities across the district, child care access is closely connected to workforce participation, family income, early childhood development and regional economic growth.

The new spaces may help reduce pressure on families who have struggled to find affordable licensed care, especially in smaller communities where options can be limited.

For employers, added child care capacity can also help parents return to work, accept shifts, complete training or stay attached to the labour market.

Detailed project announcements and grand openings are expected as the child care spaces are completed.