On Thursday, September 4, a significant milestone was celebrated in Northumberland County as municipal partners, child care providers, and local families gathered to mark the completion of construction at the Canton YMCA Child Care Centre, the final of four new child care centres scheduled to open in 2025. These centres have been made possible through funding provided by the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) System, a joint initiative of the Federal and Provincial Governments.
Together, these four centres will create 181 new, licensed child care spaces, offering more families access to high-quality, affordable, and inclusive early learning environments across the County.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of these projects. From planners and construction teams to municipal partners and child care providers, this initiative reflects the power of collaboration in bringing essential services to our rural and urban communities.
Each facility is thoughtfully designed and fully equipped with state-of-the-art resources to support children’s growth and development in safe, nurturing, and welcoming spaces, for children, families, and educators alike.
Currently, final inspections are underway at the Canton site, with an official opening date to be announced shortly.
Canton YMCA Child Care Centre Details:
5325 County Road 10, Port Hope, ON L1A 3V5
Hours of Operation: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Enrollment will be offered to families currently on our waitlist. To add your name, please visit: https://ymcanrt.org/child-care/
With the earlier 2025 openings of centres in the Municipality of Port Hope (Ganaraska Child Care), Municipality of Trent Hills (YMCA Warkworth), and the Town of Cobourg (YMCA Cobourg East), this latest addition marks a significant step toward Northumberland County’s goal of creating 245 new child care spaces by 2026 under the CWELCC program.
This achievement would not have been possible without the strong partnerships between all levels of government, local municipalities, and dedicated child care providers including YMCA Northumberland and Ganaraska Child Care. Most importantly, it represents a meaningful advancement for families throughout our community.
Learn more about this important expansion in the Early Years sector here:
181 new licensed child care spaces open in 2025 for Northumberland families
Opening Day Highlights:
