Expansion of childcare in Chatham-Kent (CK) is well underway, but a final project still needs to be approved.
CK council will be asked on Monday night to approve up to $400,000 from reserves to expand affordable childcare at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Thamesville and up to $50,000 from reserves to buy supplies and learning materials for Thamesville Child Care in the school.
A staff report noted Good Shepherd will be replacing 33 spaces that were meant for St. Francis School, which couldn't expand this year.
The St. Clair Catholic School Board advised that the childcare expansion at Good Shepherd will be operational by December 31, 2026.
"This project is located within a child care desert and already has a licensed child care operator within the school making the project highly suitable for expansion. These spaces are intentional as families that currently live in North-East Kent have less access to affordable child care spaces than other Chatham-Kent residents. By continuing this approach, Chatham-Kent should see a future day where access to affordable child care will not be dependent on where you live or whether you can afford transportation," wrote municipal staff in a report to be discussed at the council meeting on Monday.
The report noted that Thamesville and Bothwell have the highest number of children under the age of five per available space when compared to any other area in Chatham-Kent.
Administration cited 2021 Census data, showing the existing licensed child care capacity in these neighbourhoods serves approximately 16 per cent of children under the age of five. The proposed project would increase the level of service in North-East Kent to 22 per cent, bringing it closer to the 37 per cent rate required by the Ministry of Education, staff said.
A total of 24 families, many who are waiting for affordable childcare, will receive access in January and hundreds more will continue to access these spaces in the future, the report noted.
Last year, Chatham-Kent was directed by the province to create 121 new childcare spaces by the end of 2026, which led to childcare expansion at Riverview Gardens, St. Phillipe, St. Catharines, St. Michaels, and St. Francis.
Administration noted the expansion at Riverview Gardens continues to proceed on schedule and a tender for its 49 spaces should be going before council next month.
Expansion at St. Phillipe, St. Catharines and St. Michaels were completed in 2025, giving Chatham-Kent families 54 new child care spaces.
The Catholic school board is responsible for overseeing and managing these expansions.
According to staff, expansions within properties owned by school boards are not eligible for infrastructure funding, but will receive operating funds to help reduce fees.
