51 new daycare spaces announced for Markstay-Warren, St. Charles

New child care spaces are coming east of Sudbury thanks to $3 million in government funding - 51 spaces in Markstay-Warren & St. Charles by year’s end.

Families to the east of Greater Sudbury will soon have licensed childcare thanks to government funding and a new partnership.

The Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund is providing $3 million to create 51 childcare spaces in the municipalities of Markstay-Warren and St. Charles.

It’s a partnership between Our Children Our Future (OCAF), the Manitoulin Sudbury District Services Board and each municipality.

“There is limited access at the moment, especially to English language spaces,” said OCAF executive director France Gauthier.

“Families might have to go to Sudbury or go maybe to the Nipissing area.”

“This investment represents an important step forward in supporting families in Sudbury East by increasing the availability of affordable licensed childcare spaces where they are most needed,” said the social services board’s CAO, Donna Stewart, in a news release.

The former Ontario Provincial Police building on Rutland Street in Warren will be renovated to create the centre for Markstay-Warren, which will provide 16 preschool, 10 toddler and 10 infant spaces.

“This is the first 10 dedicated infant spaces that are actually coming to Sudbury-East. So, it’s a very exciting time for those families in Sudbury-East that are looking to get back to work,” said Sierra Pothier, OCAF’s director of finance and corporate services, speaking with CTV News.

Half the funding will help create a childcare centre in St. Charles, beside the arena on Bedard Road. That opens 15 additional childcare spaces.

“We are putting a modular building – and we’re not talking ATCO trailer style. We’re talking: a nice presentable childcare space. Space where families are going to want to bring their children,” Pothier said.

“In that area, you’re close to the community arena, you’re close to the splash pads,” Pothier added.

“This new licensed childcare centre will strengthen services available in our municipality and contribute to the long-term vitality of our community,” said St. Charles Mayor Paul Branconnier, in the release.

The Deputy Mayor for Markstay-Warren, Rachelle Poirer said having licensed childcare will help attract and retain families to the community.

“With this opportunity – thanks to OCAF – will allow us to grow our community,” she said.

“Our families will be able to make themselves comfortable at home knowing that we are taking care of their children as well as promote growth because of the highway and the proximity to North Bay and Sudbury. People have another option to take care of their families,” Poirier added.

Additionally, in mid-March, OCAF announced 30 childcare spaces (15 French and 15 for English ) to be added to Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon’s École St-Thomas: Accueil on Warren Avenue in Warren.

These projects will add more than 80 childcare spaces to Sudbury East this year.

Gauthier said the childcare opportunities coming to Sudbury East will also mean the creation of 25 new jobs at the three centres. OCAF plans to hold job fairs leading up to the openings.

Both the Markstay-Warren renovation and the new build in St Charles are expected to be ready by the end of 2026.

Families interested in being added to the waitlist should email: [e-mail].