Toronto announces the reopening of 10 more child care centres

As Toronto will be entering Stage 3 of Ontario’s reopening plans this Friday, 10 more childcare centres will also reopen.

The City of Toronto announced that it will reopen 10 Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres (TELCCC) by August 4, in support of parents who will be returning back to the work field and in support of restarting the economy.

Two of these centres already opened on July 23, with the other eight opening by early next month. As of June 12, the Province of Ontario said that licensed childcare services could resume operations.

Since then, Toronto has been working to reopen its own childcare services. Preparations included ensuring staff have been trained on new health and safety protocols.

August 4 also marks the reopening of 21 of the 47 city-run childcare centres. The City of Toronto said that most remaining locations are expected to reopen by the end of September.

The City has also been working with Toronto Public Health, licensed child care providers and the Province to learn what will be needed to reopen the more than 1,058 child care programs and hundreds of other agencies that provide EarlyON programs.

The resumption of modified operations can slowly take place once licensed child care providers in local communities have implemented the set requirements by the Province and the City.

“A phased approach to reopening child care programs is the right move. It will allow operators the time to make their spaces safe for children, their families as well as for child care operators and their staff,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory.

“As we continue to reopen child care centres, we must do everything possible to protect our children so that we can provide safe child care options to parents who are eager to get back to work.”

Parents have been asked by the City to contact their childcare provider directly in regards to the status of their services.

District offices in the City of Toronto remain close, with staff working remotely. Child care fee subsidies will continue to be received by families, once they resume their childcare arrangements.

It has been recommended that essential workers continue to receive priority admission, during reopening, as emergency child care services have been discontinued.

On Monday, Ontario also increased the capacity of its childcare centres. Licensed childcare centres are now permitted to have a maximum of 15 children per “cohort.” The number increased from the previous maximum of 10 per cohort.

Childcare centres in Toronto started opening in June with 11 city-operated centres, in a phased approach. Thomas Berry, Metro Hall and Berner Trail are three of the centres that reopened on June 29.