Childcare Expansion Project

Families in Mississippi Mills and surrounding communities will soon have greater access to licensed early learning and child care thanks to the upcoming opening of the new Mississippi Mills Childcare Services centre, a transformative investment that more than doubles the previous centre’s child care capacity and creates 78 much-needed spaces for children and families.

Municipal staff, project partners, dignitaries, federal and provincial governments’ representatives gathered on August 20, 2026, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the upcoming opening of the 13,045-square-foot facility at 111 Menzie Street in Almonte. Constructed by Chandos Construction, the centre broke ground in August 2025 and was designed to help meet the increasing demand for high-quality and affordable early learning and child care in Mississippi Mills. 

“When we invest in child care, we invest in the future of our community,” said Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry. “Every new child care space created here represents an opportunity for a child to learn and grow, and for a parent to pursue work, education or other opportunities knowing their child is receiving quality care. As our community continues to grow, investments like this are critical to maintaining the quality-of-life residents value. I want to sincerely thank the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada for recognizing that importance and partnering with us to deliver a facility that will serve local families for decades to come.”

“We’re making it easier for parents and families in Mississippi Mills to access affordable child care,” said Jenna Sudds, Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and to the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. “These 78 new spaces will make life more affordable for families, but will also give more children access to a safe, supportive place to learn and grow in their community. This is an investment in families, in our economy, and in the next generation.” 

“Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marks an exciting milestone for families in Mississippi Mills,” said John Jordan, Member of Provincial Parliament for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “This new child care centre will create 78 additional spaces, giving more local families access to affordable, high-quality child care close to home. Our government is proud to support investments like this that help parents and guardians return to work or school while strengthening our local community and economy. I’m pleased to join the Mississippi Mills community in celebrating this new centre and the opportunities it will provide for local families.”

“This new child care centre is a tremendous investment in children, families and the future of our communities,” said Lanark County Warden Richard Kidd. “Lanark County has allocated more than $6.7 million in provincial and federal funding to help make this project a reality, demonstrating our commitment to expanding access to licensed child care and supporting the needs of a growing population.”

Designed to support children during their most important developmental years, the new centre will provide early learning and child care services for 151 children ages 0 to 4 years old. By relocating 73 existing spaces and creating 78 new spaces, the facility more than doubles the capacity of the former State Street location and will help meet growing demand for licensed child care in the community.

Conveniently located in Almonte, the centre will offer easy access for families commuting throughout Mississippi Mills, Ottawa and surrounding communities, with dedicated lay-by parking for safe and convenient drop-off and pick-up.

The child-centred facility has been thoughtfully designed to support learning, well-being and development. Bright classrooms filled with natural daylight, views of the outdoors and warm natural finishes create welcoming spaces where children can learn through play, exploration and discovery.

The new centre includes:

• One infant room
• Three toddler classrooms
• Four preschool classrooms
• A gross motor and flexible-use space for group programming, movement and quiet activities

Learning extends beyond the classroom through dedicated outdoor environments for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. Nature-inspired play spaces feature wood climbers, tunnels, mud kitchens, water play areas, children's gardens and shaded gathering spaces, encouraging creativity, physical activity and a connection to nature.

Built using sustainable design and construction practices, the facility is pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification. Key features include a low-emission building design, advanced air filtration systems, electric commercial appliances, water conservation measures, sustainable building materials and an electric vehicle charging station. 

This child care centre represents an investment of approximately $10.5 million and was made possible through funding support from the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, administered by Lanark County. It is supported in part by $5,423,842 in funding through the Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Funding Agreement in addition to a $1,286,134 start-up grant through the Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. 

In 2025, the governments of Canada and Ontario signed a one-year extension to the Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement until March 31, 2027. In June 2026, the Government of Canada announced that it is providing an additional investment of up to $5.4 billion over two years, starting in 2026-2027, to support all provinces and territories in keeping child care fees stable and affordable for families.

No matter the child care option parents choose, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides direct, tax-free support, helping about 3.5 million families, including over 6 million children every year. While families can use the benefit however they need, for many it significantly reduces the burden of child care expenses – in some cases, cutting them entirely thanks to federal, provincial, and territorial investments to reduce child care fees in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system. 

See the press release for photos.