What's the childcare situation like in Ottawa?

February 15, 2020 7:09 AM

If I wanted to move to Ottawa for three months, could I get a licensed daycare centre (not home daycare, not nanny, not babysitter) spot within a few weeks notice for a preschool age kid? I'm not actually interested in (and am pretty opposed to) "preschools" as in anything trying to be school-like and teach in any school-like way. If there's any hope of this, any advice on how I would proceed is also welcome.
posted by anonymous to Grab Bag (1 answer total)

Anything is possible, although I wouldn’t say that it’s likely. One thing you will have to do is register on the city’s childcare registry. Daycare centers will almost certainly not take you if you’re not registered. The city won’t actually help you find a spot, though. You’ll have to contact the daycares yourself to inquire about spots. I’d register immediately, since some daycares will ask you how long ago you got on the list.
posted by fso at 6:45 PM on February 15, 2020