The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released two new resources to support the planning and development of new licensed centre-based child care spaces across the territory. 

These resources are designed to assist current and prospective child care providers, including individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in entering the sector, as well as the contractors, developers, architects and consultants they may engage to build new facilities or renovate existing ones.  

Setting Up a New Licensed Centre-based Early Learning and Child Care Facility: What You Need to Know and Design Guidelines for Centre-based Early Learning and Child Care Facilities were developed to support the creation of high-quality, licensed child care spaces that meet the needs of NWT families. These resources offer practical guidance and regulatory information to help reduce barriers to entry, improve access, and strengthen support for both existing and potential child care operators.

Setting Up a New Licensed Centre-based Early Learning and Child Care Facility: What You Need to Know provides information for those planning a new centre-based child care facility, including an overview of what you need during pre-planning, facility design, permits and approvals, construction and inspections, and preparing for the licensing stages of your project. 

Design Guidelines for Centre-based Early Learning and Child Care Facilities provide information for those planning to build a new child care facility or renovate/retrofit an existing facility by providing information on regulations, requirements, and minimum standards for licensed centre-based facilities. These Design Guidelines will be regularly updated based on user feedback and emerging concepts in early learning and child care building and design processes. 
In both documents, you will find information related to regulatory aspects of licensed centre-based child care facilities, such as fire codes, municipal bylaws, public health requirements, building regulations and Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulations.

Lack of infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to achieving affordable child care in communities across the Northwest Territories. These new supports align with the goals of the 2030 Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Strategy: A Commitment and Vision for Action, which outlines the GNWT’s commitment to reducing barriers, improving child care access, and transforming early learning and child care in the territory.

Related links: 

• Setting Up New Licensed Centre-based Child Care Facilities: What You Need to Know 
• Design Guidelines for Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Centres

For media requests, please contact: 

Agata Gutkowska
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories 
Email: Agata_Gutowska@gov.nt.ca 
Tel: (867) 767-9352 ext. 71073