Alberta reduced child care fees to an average of $15 per day in January 2024, and is on track to reduce parent fees further to an average of $10 per day by March 2026. If you have questions about finding or choosing child care and other options, call Child Care Connect (100+ languages available) toll free at 1-844-644-5165.
Overview
Child care is an essential part of Alberta’s economy. When parents and caregivers go to work or school, they need to know their children are safe and have the resources they need to grow and thrive.
Choosing quality child care for your family is a very important decision. You want a safe, healthy environment that supports the social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional development of your children.
Legislation
The Early Learning and Child Care Act and regulation outline the processes for becoming licensed, set out requirements that must be met to maintain a high standard for quality and safety in licensed programs, and specify the types of information that should be provided to parents to ensure transparency.
Federal-provincial child care agreement
On November 15, 2021, the Alberta and federal governments announced an agreement to reduce child care fees by an average of 50% in early 2022 and to provide $10 per day fees, on average, by 2026.
Types of child care
In Alberta, there are 2 types of child care under the act and regulation: licensed and unlicensed. This makes it easy for parents to know which options are regulated by the government and which are not.
Find and choose child care
Choosing Child Care Guide
Choosing the right child care for your family can be a difficult decision with lots to consider.
Read the Choosing Child Care Guide to help you find and choose quality child care in Alberta. The guide will help you know what to look for, what questions to ask, and for specific details to consider when choosing child care.
Then use the lookup tool to find more information on facilities in your area.
Child care lookup tool
The Child Care Lookup tool has information about licensed child care programs and family day home agencies. Search for a program near you by entering your city and postal code, age group and program type. Results will include the facility name, full address with postal code, phone number, capacity, enrolment, extended or overnight care services offered and 18 months of non-compliance history.
Use the child care lookup tool
Public health orders
September 10, 2024 – Aspen Lake Discovery Centre
- Following an inspection on September 10, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has rescinded the closure order for Aspen Lake Discovery Centre (east location), a licensed child care facility.
- AHS indicated that all pre-opening conditions at the 126-space child care facility had been satisfied and the facility has been reopened.
- Effective September 20, 2024, Alberta Health Services has lifted the Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli outbreak order.
Programs ordered to close
The following child care programs have been ordered to close by Alberta’s government:
- October 10, 2024 – Waverley Day Care
- October 9, 2024 – Willowbrae Academy West Point Center
- August 12, 2024 – Little Scholars Daycare Greenview
- August 12, 2024 – Little Scholars Daycare ECS Ltd.
- August 12, 2024 – Little Scholars Daycare Inc.
- July 31, 2024 – Morning Glory Daycare and OSC
Extra help
Children needing extra support
Children with special needs can get support from the Inclusive Child Care Program in licensed daycare, out-of-school care and preschool programs, and through a licensed family day home agency.
Inclusive Child Care Programs create flexibility to meet the individual needs of children with special needs or disabilities within these child care settings. Support may include training for child care staff, consultation on programming for inclusion, resource and referral information or funding for additional staff.
Help with child care fees
Child care subsidies are available to offset the cost of licensed child care for eligible lower-income families.
If you need help paying for child care fees, you can find information about funding and determine your family’s eligibility through the Child Care Subsidy program.
Child Care Connect
You can contact Child Care Connect to:
- learn about child care options in your area
- get help finding the licensed child care program in your community that works best for your family
- find out if your unlicensed provider has been issued an order to stop providing child care within the past 24 months
- report concerns, complaints or incidents related to a child care program
Call toll free: 1-844-644-5165
Call us if you have concerns
Call us if you have concerns with your own provider or one in your community – whether they are a licensed or unlicensed.
Early Learning and Child Care staff will help you report concerns, complaints or incidents related to the health and safety or well-being of children in a child care setting.
You can also call Child Care Connect if you suspect someone is providing child care to 6 or more children, not including their own.
All complaints received are taken seriously and reviewed:
- Early Learning and Child Care staff will determine if your complaint falls under the scope of the act and regulation, or the Family Day Home Standards.
- If your complaint is within the scope of the legislation, regulation, or standards, an investigation will be conducted. Some complaints may fall within the scope of another authority and be referred to police, fire department, municipal government, public health, Child Intervention, or another organization.
- Every effort will be made to protect the identity of a complainant, unless criminal charges or civil litigation makes disclosure necessary.