The City of Ottawa is authorized by the Province of Ontario to provide emergency child care for children of health care and other frontline workers, free of charge, at three locations in Ottawa.
- Esther By Child Care Centre (1550 Caldwell Avenue)
- Centre Éducatif Tournesol (194 McArthur Road)
- Dr. Ernest Couture Child Care Centre (2185 Riverside Drive)
- Andrew Fleck - Overbrook Child Care Centre (557 Queen Mary Street)
- Andrew Fleck – George Street Child Care Centre (185 & 195 George Street)
Home-based emergency child care is provided by Andrew Fleck Children’s Services across the city.
Ottawa Public Health considers that the safest option for families is for children to remain at home, if possible. While there is no way to be certain that the COVID-19 infection can be kept out of a child care setting, the child care centres are following strict Ottawa Public Health guidelines to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all families, children and employees.
Emergency child care services are reserved exclusively for workers identified in the Province of Ontario’s list of workers eligible for emergency child care who have no other alternatives.
Families who meet the criteria for emergency child care are required to complete an online application (external link).
Families will be contacted by Children’s Services if a space becomes available and a signed “Consent to Accept Risk and Release of Liability” form will be required upon acceptance of a placement.
As space is limited, Children’s Services will prioritize child care spaces for frontline health care workers on a first come first served basis.
For questions about emergency child care, contact childrensservices@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2424 ext. 24100 and leave a message