Waitlist Information

Updated: May 23, 2025

The Parkgate Society Child Care waitlist remains closed.

Dear Parents,

We are writing to inform you that our waitlist has been updated as of May 2025.

All families with children currently on our waitlist can be assured that your child remains in the queue. Children have been moved to the appropriate program based on their birthdate. For example:

If your child was on the Infant-Toddler waitlist but is turning 3 this year, they have now been placed on the 3–5 Program waitlist.
If your child was on the 3–5 Program waitlist and is entering kindergarten in September, they have been moved to the School Age Care waitlist.

We’re also excited to share that Parkgate Society has opened a new child care location at Lynn Creek Community Centre. Families living within the designated postal code area were selected through a lottery process. Unfortunately, not all families were successful in securing a spot. These families have been added to our main waitlist.

Moving forward, the Parkgate Society Child Care waitlist will apply to both locations:

Parkgate Community Centre (a $10-a-day BC Child Care Prototype Site)
Lynn Creek Community Centre (a parent fee-based program receiving Fee Reduction Initiative (FRI) funding)

We encourage all parents to apply for the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) to further reduce child care costs.

How Placement Works

When a space becomes available at either location or either program, it will be offered to the next family on our waitlist. The family will be contacted directly, and they may choose to accept the space or remain on the list for future availability. Placements for School Age Care spaces that may become available for September 2025 will be done in June. Infant-Toddler and 3-5 Program placements are done throughout the year.

Current Waitlist Numbers (as of May 2025)

Under 5 Programs:

Infant-Toddler Program: 20 families
3–5 Program: 96 families

School Age Care Programs:

Dorothy Lynas School: 85 families
St. Pius X School: 12 families
Seymour Heights School: 27 families
Sherwood Park School: 25 families
Cove Cliff School: 5 families (this school is currently not served)

Priority Placement

We continue to prioritize children of families currently enrolled in our programs:

Children in the Infant-Toddler Program have priority for the 3–5 Program.
Children in the 3–5 Program have priority for School Age Care.
Families welcoming a new sibling may also receive priority for child care placement.

Because of these priority policies, waitlist movement remains slow. As of May 2025, our waitlist is still too large to accept new applications, and it will remain closed until further notice.

We understand how difficult this situation is for families seeking child care. For alternative options, please reach out to our local Child Care Resource & Referral at https://children.nscr.ca/contact-us/

They may be able to assist you in finding child care elsewhere.

We thank all families for their interest in our programs and encourage you to visit this webpage regularly for future updates.

Sincerely,
Parkgate Society Child Care

Frequently Asked Questions

How does our waitlist work?

When there are vacancies in our programs, priority for space will be determined as follows:

Children currently enrolled in our child care programs have priority to move up to the next level or to increase or decrease their days.
Siblings of children who are currently enrolled in our child care programs.
Waitlisted children who are eligible for the specific space available (based on age) and in order of waitlist date.

When can I apply and place my child on the waitlist?

You may put your child’s name onto the waitlist as soon as your child is born.

Is there a waitlist application fee?

No, however, there is a $75.00 administration fee when you accept a space in our child care program.

How long can I expect to wait to receive an offer for a child care space?

There are many factors we consider when a space becomes available (i.e. siblings currently attending, the date you went onto the waitlist, the type of program you are looking for); for these reasons, it is difficult to provide an accurate prediction of how long a family might wait for a space, or even if a space will be offered at all. Average wait times range from 1-3 years. Note: This information is not a precise indicator of when you may receive an offer of care. We cannot guarantee that a space will become available so we encourage families to continue exploring alternative child care options.

How do I find out where my child is on the waitlist?

Given the various factors in determining who will be offered a space, we do not provide waitlist numbers and we are unable to respond to requests related to finding out where your child is on the waitlist. However, we can provide confirmation that your child is still on the list.

How much notice will I be given when a space becomes available?

We aim to provide you with a minimum of one month notice. When a space becomes available, we send a notification by email to a number of families on the waitlist to confirm who is interested. From the responses we receive, we offer the space to the first “eligible” child using our priorities. When you receive an offer for a space, you will have 48 hours to respond. If we do not hear from you within 48 hours, we will move on to the next child on the waitlist. For this reason, it is important for you to inform us of any changes to your contact information.

Do I get to see the child care program before I accept the space?

Yes, if you have been offered a space, you will have an opportunity to see the program before accepting the space.

What happens if I turn down a space when it is offered?

If you decline 3 offers of a space which match your waitlist application, your child’s name will be moved to the bottom of the waitlist and you will lose your priority status. If you no longer need a child care space, please contact us so we can remove your name from the list.

What if I accept a space and then decide I don’t want it?

We have a 45-day withdrawal policy. If you accept a space and then change your mind, you are responsible for paying the fees to cover 45 days unless your notice for withdrawal is more than 45 days prior to your child’s start date. Your child can be placed back on the waitlist and he/she will have a new waitlist date. Note: if you do not provide the 45 days’ notice/pay in lieu of notice, we will not put your child back onto our waitlist.

We understand that seeking high quality child care for your children is extremely important and can be stressful. A very good resource to help in your search for child care is North Shore Community Resources’ Child Care Resource & Referral page.

Volunteer with us

Are you looking for a way to connect with our community? We are looking for volunteers of all ages who want to share their passion and skills with us and help to make our community a special place.

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator to learn more.

Get Involved

Support Parkgate Society

Parkgate Society relies on donations of any amount from community members just like you.

Your support helps ensure Parkgate Society continues to provide community services to our friends and neighbours on the North Shore.

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