Childcare with the Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre
The H&R MFRC Daycare recognizes that children learn through play, we take pride in offering a stimulating social environment with opportunities to enhance language skills, fine and gross motor skills and to promote cognitive and social growth. Parents are invited to join the group whenever possible, as we believe that parent involvement is an integral component in child development.
The Halifax & Region MFRC offers a variety of childcare services and programs to CF families including two licensed childcare facilities, weekday casual care, Saturday and special event care, emergency and respite childcare and a comprehensive childcare registry. The goal of all childcare programs is to offer quality, affordable care for CF families.
The Halifax & Region MFRC is fortunate to have two licensed childcare centres. The Halifax & Region MFRC Daycare located in Windsor Park, Halifax is licensed with 62 spaces for children ages 3 months to 5 years and the Shearwater Children’s Centre is licensed for 161 spaces for children ages 3 months to 12 years.
Like many other childcare facilities in HRM, both MFRC childcare facilities have extensive waitlists. This is a challenge for many CF families who are looking to enrol their children in one of the centres and the Halifax & Region MFRC is working with CF senior leadership to address this concern and develop creative solutions.
“Infrastructure is one of our biggest challenges in respect to waitlists within our childcare centres. Each facility is licensed at maximum capacity and in order to increase enrolment, additional facilities are required. We have been working hard with senior CF leadership to address this concern and develop a solution to increase daycare spaces,” said Colleen Calvert, Executive Director, H&R MFRC.
The Halifax & Region MFRC understands that both childcare centres may be the preference for CF families, as quality care is not only offered, but families are able to easily connect with other services within the MFRC. Childcare spaces generally become available in licensed childcare centres when children move to grade primary, so entries are usually based on the calendar school year, with most openings in the month of September. The only exception to this would be infant spaces.
Halifax & Region MFRC daycare fees are established to be competitive within the local market. Research is regularly conducted on local daycare fees to ensure the fees offered at both centres are fair. The recent survey conducted by the Halifax & Region MFRC indicated both daycare facilities are on the lower side of average.
The Halifax & Region MFRC recognizes the frustration and challenges military families experience when they require daycare, or are being posted to this area and are faced with extensive waitlists for childcare. Staff at the Halifax & Region MFRC are more than happy to work with CF families to discuss childcare options to meet their family’s needs.
The Halifax & Region MFRC has created a resource handbook to provide families with childcare options that includes information on all licensed childcare facilities within HRM, tips for finding a quality program and important questions to ask when considering licensed childcare or home care options. This resource also provides details on all other childcare programs and services offered at both MFRC sites.
Please click here for our Childcare Options book, with tips for finding childcare and links to listings of centres on the Department of Community Services website.
Please note: The Daycares have a new payment policy effective June 1, 2012 so please contact the Directors for more details.
Fee Structure 2012
| Program | Monthly Cost |
| Infant Program | $704/month |
| Toddler Program | $638/month |
| Daycare (Side A&B)- Full Time | $594/month |
Part Day Preschool Mass Registration day is May 21, 2013 at 8:30am
2 Day program Tue/Thurs – $85/month
3 Day program Mon/Wed/Fri – $105/month
Programs hours are 8:30-11:30am from Sept-June
