The business of child care, made clearer.
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
452 licensed child care spaces remain closed because of staffing shortages
The latest warning: having licensed space is not the same as having the staff to operate it.
A report published this week by TimminsToday highlights a serious problem in northeastern Ontario: staffing shortages are preventing 452 licensed francophone child care spaces in Timmins and Kapuskasing from operating, even as 556 children aged newborn to four are on a regional waiting list.
The Cochrane District Services Board is pursuing recruitment initiatives, school outreach, mentorship and training to help bring more qualified educators into the sector.
The report also highlights an important distinction for operators: the recent extension of CWELCC funding does not automatically provide additional funds or spaces for expansion.
Why this matters to Ontario daycare owners
A licence and physical capacity do not guarantee that a centre can operate at full capacity.
Recruitment and retention can become the limiting factors on enrolment and revenue.
Opening additional classrooms without a realistic staffing plan can increase financial risk.
Reducing staffing below applicable regulatory requirements is not an acceptable solution.
What to do: Review your staffing plan for the next 90 days. Identify rooms that could be affected by vacancies, calculate the cost of replacement coverage and establish a recruitment pipeline before a staffing shortage forces you to reduce operations.
Orillia daycare prepares to open with an innovative operating model
Casa Cove Childcare & Café is preparing to open in November at 260 Mississaga Street West in Orillia. An October 19 report says the renovated facility plans to start with 15 children, with a longer-term goal of reaching 30 spaces.
The business combines toddler and preschool care with play-based learning influenced by Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches. Its operators also plan to use the premises as a public play café on weekends. An open house is scheduled for October 31.
This is a local business development, not a new provincial CWELCC announcement. The report says subsidized child care options are anticipated in early 2027; prospective families should confirm availability and fees directly with the operator.
Business takeaway: A differentiated service model can help a centre stand out, but operators considering additional revenue streams should first confirm licensing, insurance, staffing, zoning and the practical separation of child care operations from other activities.
Provincial funding watch: what has changed?
The latest public-source review did not identify a new Ontario-wide CWELCC application window or a new provincial funding guideline announced during October 13–20.
Ontario's published Cost-Based Funding Guideline remains updated to July 2026. Operators should use the current official documents rather than relying on older presentations, informal summaries or another municipality's procedures.
Check the official source: Ontario Child Care and Early Years Funding Guidelines
APPLICATION WATCH
Is any Ontario region accepting new CWELCC applications?
No new general intake was verified in this week's review.
This is a statement about the public information reviewed, not a guarantee that no individual or targeted opportunity exists. Some regions may communicate directly with selected operators, and an expression of interest is not equivalent to an approved allocation.
Regional watch — October 20
PEEL REGION
Peel's official application page says it is not currently accepting CWELCC expansion applications. The page indicates it will be updated if another application window opens.
TORONTO
The City says there is no CWELCC application intake window planned for child care centres in 2026. Existing expansion applicants remain focused on meeting the provincial completion deadline.
YORK REGION
Applications for new CWELCC spaces remain closed. York accepts applications during designated intake periods and advises operators to monitor its website for future opportunities.
HALTON REGION
The 2026 Expression of Interest period has closed. The Region says the Province has not committed additional CWELCC spaces for Halton for 2026 or future years.
HAMILTON
The City reports that all CWELCC spaces and funding allocated for 2022–2026 have been allocated. Its Directed Growth Application process is closed. Operators can submit an Expression of Interest for future planning, but the form is not evaluated as a funding application and does not guarantee future participation.
DURHAM REGION
Durham's published summer 2026 update says all directed-growth spaces have been allocated. The Region will communicate additional approvals if more spaces become available.
What about opening a daycare without CWELCC?
In some municipalities, operators may pursue licensing outside CWELCC, subject to applicable licensing and municipal requirements. This is not the same as receiving CWELCC funding, and it should not be assumed that a centre can join the program later.
Before signing a lease or purchasing a business, ask the relevant service system manager:
Can this proposed site operate as a licensed child care centre?
Is CWELCC participation currently available for this type of operation?
If not, is a future intake planned, and what criteria are likely to apply?
Are there local restrictions, funding conditions or timelines that would affect the business plan?
Our ongoing commitment: We will report a newly opened intake when an official source confirms it. We will not describe an EOI, a general funding guideline or an unconfirmed future opportunity as an open application window.
DEADLINE WATCH
October 20–November 17, 2026
NOVEMBER 2 — TORONTO CHILD CARE CENTRES
2027 Operating Information Online Form
Toronto's published funding calendar lists November 2, 2026, as the deadline for child care centres to submit the 2027 Operating Information Online Form (OIOF).
This is an operating-information and cost-based funding process, not a new-centre application.
Action this week:
Confirm the form and submission requirements with your Toronto Children's Services consultant.
Check operating details, capacity and other information carefully.
Submit before the deadline and retain confirmation.
Official source: Toronto — Contract and Financial Information
NOVEMBER 1–8 — YORK REGION
Monthly Record of Attendance
York's published operator guidance requires monthly Record of Attendance reporting through OCCMS during the 1st–8th reporting window.
For November, this window runs from November 1 through November 8.
Action: Reconcile attendance information and complete the required reporting in the applicable system within the reporting window.
Official source: York Region — CWELCC operator information
OTHER REGIONS — VERIFY YOUR OWN OBLIGATIONS
No additional fixed, general CWELCC application deadline between October 20 and November 17 was verified in this review.
That does not mean there are no deadlines for your centre. Funding agreements, municipal reporting requirements, licensing obligations, payroll, insurance and corporate filings may have separate due dates.
A practical habit: Check your operator portal every Monday and maintain a single calendar of all submissions, renewals and financial reporting dates.
THE OWNER’S BUSINESS DESK
Your centre has a licence and a waiting list. Why can’t you fill every room?
This week's practical feature: staffing capacity, revenue and operational planning.
The staffing difficulties reported in northeastern Ontario illustrate a challenge that affects child care operators in different ways across the province. A centre may have strong demand and licensed capacity but still be unable to deliver all the care it could otherwise provide.
The financial consequences are not limited to recruitment expenses. Unfilled positions can constrain enrolment, while overtime, agency coverage and repeated hiring can push costs higher.
1. Calculate the real cost of a vacant position
The advertised hourly wage is only one part of the cost of staffing a room. Employers also need to consider benefits, statutory employment costs, paid leave, recruitment, onboarding and replacement coverage.
Try this: Calculate the monthly cost of each staffing position, including employer costs. Then estimate the revenue and operating costs associated with the capacity that position supports.
Do not assume that every vacancy has the same financial impact; age groups, staffing ratios, room design and the schedule all matter.
2. Build a staffing plan around actual operations
A centre can be fully staffed on paper and still face coverage problems because of sick leave, breaks, training, turnover or uneven scheduling.
Try this: Prepare a four-week staffing roster that identifies:
Required coverage by room and operating period.
Scheduled leave and known training absences.
Qualified replacement staff.
The point at which enrolment or room operations could be affected.
Maintain all applicable staffing ratios and qualification requirements.
3. Treat recruitment as an ongoing operating function
Waiting until a staff member resigns can leave a centre scrambling to find qualified replacements.
Consider building relationships with local ECE programs, colleges, employment networks and existing staff referral channels. A structured onboarding process and realistic scheduling can also help improve retention.
For francophone programs or other specialized services, recruitment may require a more targeted plan.
4. Use a staffing stress test before expanding
Before adding a classroom or increasing enrolment, prepare three scenarios:
Scenario | Planning question |
|---|---|
Expected | Can the centre staff its planned enrolment with the current roster? |
Vacancy | What happens if one key position remains unfilled for six weeks? |
Higher costs | Can the centre absorb overtime, temporary coverage or recruitment expenses? |
Estimate the cash impact under each scenario. The purpose is not to predict every problem but to identify when the business becomes financially vulnerable.
5. Make the next 30 days actionable
Review current vacancies and turnover.
Identify which rooms depend on hard-to-replace positions.
Compare scheduled staffing costs with the budget.
Prepare a recruitment and retention plan.
Review your cash forecast if vacancies or replacement coverage are affecting revenue.
Need help reviewing your centre's operating numbers?
Email [email protected] with the subject “Daycare Financial Review.” Include your municipality, a brief description of the challenge and the type of review you need. Do not send confidential employee or child information in your initial email.
This article is general operational guidance, not legal, employment or funding advice. Staffing decisions must comply with the applicable child care rules and employment requirements.
Source for the current staffing example: TimminsToday — Staffing shortages keep hundreds of francophone child care spaces closed
DAYCARE MARKETPLACE
New and recently updated sale and rental leads
Listings checked for the October 20 edition. Advertised information is supplied by listing agents or property advertisers and is not independently guaranteed. Confirm availability, price, permitted use and licensing feasibility before proceeding.
FOR SALE — MARKHAM
7481 Woodbine Avenue, Unit 1
A commercial listing advertises a child care-related business opportunity with an asking price of $120,000. The listing describes an approved site and playground, a student waitlist and ministry-approved policies. It also states that conversion work would require approximately $600,000, with an additional estimated $50,000 for furniture, and advertises rent of $30,000 per month.
The listing says CWELCC approval would require reapplication when the relevant application window opens. Buyers should verify the site's actual approval status, permitted use, construction costs and all licensing and funding requirements.
FOR LEASE — LONDON
290 Ridout Street South
A commercial listing posted October 15 advertises approximately 3,500 square feet in the south wing of a building previously used as a nursery school.
Advertised net rent: $12 per square foot annually.
Estimated additional rent for 2026: $8 per square foot annually.
The listing describes access to an enclosed green space and lift access.
A commercial-grade kitchen may be available at additional cost.
The advertised premises may be worth investigating for a suitable child care use, but the listing does not establish that the space is currently licensed or ready to operate as a daycare.
FOR LEASE — GREATER NAPANEE
83 Bridge Street
A commercial lease listing advertises a former purpose-built daycare space with approximately 2,500 square feet of dedicated finished area and an advertised operating capacity of around 40 children.
Advertised base rent: $2,200 per month plus HST.
The listing describes separate rooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, laundry, storage and a fenced outdoor play area.
Parking and an accessible ground-level entrance are also described.
The landlord is seeking a long-term commitment, with a proposed annual rent increase.
The advertised building size is larger than the dedicated daycare area; confirm the exact leased premises, permitted use, licence requirements and lease terms with the listing representative.
BEFORE YOU SIGN
For any purchase or lease, independently confirm:
Zoning and permitted child care use.
Licensing feasibility, age groups and potential licensed capacity.
Indoor space, outdoor play space, washrooms and accessibility.
Fire and life-safety requirements and any necessary renovations.
Rent, additional rent, lease options, deposits and landlord consent.
Existing liabilities, financial statements and enrolment, if buying a business.
Whether CWELCC participation can legally and practically continue after a change of ownership.
Important: Buying a daycare business does not automatically transfer its child care licence or CWELCC participation. Confirm the applicable requirements with the regulator and service system manager before relying on an advertised approval.
THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR DAYCARE?
We welcome confidential enquiries from owners
Are you considering retirement, selling an established centre, transferring your business or leasing a property suitable for child care?
We invite owners and commercial property representatives to submit opportunities for possible inclusion in a future edition.
Email: [email protected]
For a daycare sale, use the subject “Daycare Sale” and include:
Municipality and general location.
Licensed capacity and enrolment, if available.
CWELCC status.
Whether the premises are owned or leased.
Asking price and preferred timeline, if available.
Whether you consent to a future newsletter mention.
For a rental opportunity, include the approximate area, asking rent, lease terms, permitted use and details of any existing child care fit-out.
Please do not send confidential information about children or employees. We will seek permission before publishing an owner's details and will distinguish advertised claims from independently confirmed facts.
Coming Soon
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Share + review: Forward this issue to another daycare owner. Tell us what helped, what we should cover next, or send a short review to [email protected]. Please say whether we may publish your words and name. Have a local deadline, available space or daycare story? Send the official link or listing details. Find your local source through the LEE CPA regional resource hub.
Have a local deadline, available space or daycare story? Send the official link or listing details. Find your local source through the LEE CPA regional resource hub