Childcare Waitlists in Canada (What the Data Says)
If you are searching for child care and it feels like you are doing everything "right" while still getting nowhere, you are not imagining it. Canada’s child care system is under real pressure, and the pressure shows up in the same places parents feel it most: waitlists, limited hours, and programs that are already full.
This article does two things:
- Put numbers behind the experience, using Statistics Canada data
- Give you a plan that improves your odds without turning your life into a spreadsheet
The short version of the data
Statistics Canada’s 2024 Canadian Survey on the Provision of Child Care Services is one of the clearest snapshots we have of what providers are dealing with right now:
- In 2024, there were 46,986 businesses across Canada providing child care services to nearly 1.1 million children aged 12 and younger.
- As of April 8, 2024, 77.3% of child care centres reported having an active waitlist.
- In the same survey, 59.5% of child care centres reported operating at maximum capacity.
- Staffing is a major constraint: 86.4% of child care centres reported difficulty filling vacant positions.
If you want a single sentence summary: many centres are full, many have waitlists, and even when demand exists, staffing can stop spaces from opening.
What the survey does not tell you (but is worth knowing)
Statistics Canada is explicit about a key limitation: this survey collected information from providers, not parents. It is not possible to tell from this data why children are on waitlists (for example, a preferred location vs no access to any care) or how long children were waiting.
That nuance matters because it explains why waitlists can look "full" even when some families are waiting for something very specific.
What that means for you (and why "apply to two places" usually fails)
When most centres have waitlists, a childcare search stops being a single decision and starts being a numbers game mixed with timing.
That does not mean you need to blanket-email every centre in your city every day. It means you need a system that:
- casts a wide enough net to catch openings
- keeps your outreach consistent and polite
- makes it easy to say yes quickly when an opportunity appears
This is where a tool like Blueberry helps: the simplest way to improve your odds is to widen the top of the funnel and stay organised enough to follow through.
A practical plan that actually works (without becoming your second job)
1) Build a shortlist that is bigger than your comfort zone
Most parents start with a "top three" list. It feels reasonable. It is also where searches go to die.
Instead, aim for:
- 10 to 15 providers in your shortlist if you are searching for an infant spot
- 8 to 12 if you are searching for toddler or preschool
If you are in Saskatchewan, start here:
2) Ask about the openings that do not look like "the perfect spot"
Statistics Canada’s survey also highlights something parents run into constantly: not every program offers the same mix of hours.
Unlicensed home-based providers were more likely to offer care during non-standard hours (evenings, weekends, overnight). They were also more likely to offer flexible care than centres.
In 2024, 16.7% of unlicensed home-based providers offered flexible care, compared with 11.0% of centres and 5.2% of licensed home-based providers.
Some families need non-standard hours. Some families do not, but can use flexibility as a bridge while they wait for a more standard schedule.
This is where flexibility pays off:
- part-time for 1 to 3 months
- two or three fixed days per week
- a start date earlier than your ideal
- a different neighbourhood for the first year
None of these are perfect. They are bridges. Bridges get you back to work.
3) Reach out in batches, not one-by-one
If you are sending one email per week, you are going to feel crushed by the timeline.
Pick a day, do a batch, then stop thinking about it until your next scheduled follow-up.
On Blueberry, this looks like:
- shortlist providers across a couple of neighbourhoods
- send inquiries to the whole shortlist in one sitting
- track responses and next follow-up dates in one place
If you want a starting point, use our templates: Daycare Waitlist Email Templates (Canada).
4) Follow up like a human, not a marketer
Directors are busy. Many are juggling staffing gaps while trying to keep the room running smoothly.
A good follow-up is short, specific, and respectful:
- confirm your preferred start date and age group
- mention any flexibility (days, start earlier, part-time)
- ask if they want you to check in again and when
It is normal to follow up every 4 to 6 weeks. It is also normal to get a spot because you were the parent who stayed politely visible.
5) Be ready to move fast
When an opening does appear, it can move quickly.
Before you get the call, have these ready:
- your child’s birthdate and immunisation info (if applicable)
- your schedule needs (including pick-up time realities)
- your second-choice start date
- a list of questions you still need answered
If you tour, bring a simple checklist so you are not trying to remember everything later: Saskatchewan Daycare Tour Companion.
A note about "capacity" and why this is so sticky
One of the most sobering parts of the Statistics Canada release is that capacity is not just "number of spaces." It is also staffing.
If most centres report difficulty filling positions, there will be times when a centre cannot open new spots even if the room and demand exist.
That is why a wide net matters. You are not only waiting for a child to age into a room. You are also waiting for staffing to align.
A quick supply snapshot (useful context, not a prediction)
Parents often ask, "How many daycares are there in my province?" There is no single perfect number because definitions vary, and the system changes. But Statistics Canada published a count of child care businesses by type in January 2021 that gives useful context.
Here is what that table reported for a few provinces:
| Province | Total child care businesses (Jan 2021) | Centre-based | Licensed and home-based | Unlicensed and home-based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 52,794 | 9,762 | 14,782 | 28,250 |
| Saskatchewan | 2,001 | 283 | 277 | 1,441 |
| Alberta | 6,626 | 1,118 | 1,361 | 4,147 |
| British Columbia | 4,473 | 1,086 | 1,509 | 1,878 |
| Manitoba | 1,508 | 492 | 304 | 712 |
If you are reading this in 2025, treat these as historical context, not today’s exact count.
If you are feeling behind, start here today
Here is a simple 30-minute reset that moves your search forward:
- Open Blueberry search and build a shortlist of 10 providers you would actually use.
- Send your first inquiry batch.
- Put a follow-up reminder on your calendar for four weeks from now.
That is it. Do not optimise it into oblivion. Repeat the cycle until you land a spot.
Sources
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