658 licensed daycares in Montreal, QC

Daycare & Childcare in Montreal

Montréal has 664 licensed childcare centres in Quebec's provincial dataset, all of them group centres, with no licensed family home daycares recorded in this dataset. Quebec's childcare system is structurally distinct from other provinces: the dominant model is the Centre de la Petite Enfance (CPE), a non-profit community childcare centre regulated and funded by the Ministère de la Famille. Of Montréal's 664 licensed centres, 433 (65%) operate as subsidised services (either CPEs or garderies subventionnées) where fees are set by the province and kept well below market rates. The remaining 35% are non-subsidised garderies, which operate under the same licensing rules but charge market-rate fees. Capacity ranges from 8 to 208 spaces, with a median of 63 spots. Providers in the dataset include long-established CPEs such as Centre de la Petite Enfance le Sablier, CPE Autour du Monde, and CPE Lafontaine (Installation Jardin des Lièvres), as well as garderies like Garderie Papillon and Garderie Éducative Ahuntsic.

What to know about childcare in Montreal

Quebec's unique childcare model

Unlike other Canadian provinces that rely primarily on the federal CWELCC framework, Quebec established its own low-fee childcare system decades before CWELCC existed. The subsidised-spot model, les places à contribution réduite (PCR), sets a fixed daily parental contribution for families with a subsidised spot. This contribution is adjusted annually and varies with family income. Quebec also participates in CWELCC, and that federal funding supports the province's broader childcare expansion goals, but the provincial framework is what determines how Montréal families access and pay for licensed care.

Subsidised vs. non-subsidised centres in Montréal

433 of Montréal's 664 listed centres hold subsidised spots. Families who secure a subsidised space at a CPE or garderie subventionnée pay a reduced provincial rate rather than full market fees. Places in subsidised centres are allocated through a central waiting list managed by the Portail d'inscription aux services de garde, Quebec's official online childcare placement service. Demand for subsidised spots in Montréal significantly outstrips supply, and wait times can be lengthy. Registering early through the Portail is essential. The 231 non-subsidised centres charge market rates and may have shorter waits, though costs are higher.

CPEs and their role in Montréal

Centres de la Petite Enfance are non-profit, parent-governed organisations. They are the backbone of Quebec's licensed childcare sector and typically operate multiple installations under one CPE name: you'll see this in names like Centre de la Petite Enfance St-Édouard Installation 1 Drolet and Installation 2 Mozart, or CPE Graffiti's la Fabrique and la Galerie installations. Each installation operates as a distinct licensed site, which is why Montréal's 664 entries may represent fewer than 664 unique organisational entities. CPEs must follow Quebec's educational framework Accueillir la petite enfance, which sets expectations for language, social development, and early learning.

Age coverage in Montréal

Of Montréal's 664 licensed centres: 509 serve infants (0–12 months) and 664 serve toddlers (13–24 months) and preschool-age children (3–4 years). Notably, none of the 664 centres in the dataset record school-age (5+) programming. Quebec's school-age care (périscolaire) is typically offered through a separate system based in schools and is not reflected in this dataset. If you need school-age care in Montréal, enquire directly with your child's school about their service de garde en milieu scolaire.

Capacity in Montréal

With a median capacity of 63 and a range of 8 to 208, Montréal's licensed centres are generally smaller than their Alberta counterparts. Smaller CPE installations are common. This reflects the community-based, neighbourhood-scale model that CPEs were designed around. For parents, this means centres often have close ties to a specific neighbourhood and community.

Questions to ask when evaluating a Montréal centre

Is this centre a CPE or a non-subsidised garderie? If subsidised, are you currently accepting applications through the Portail, or do you maintain your own waitlist? What age does the centre accept from, and is there a separate infant programme? What is the daily parental contribution for a subsidised spot? In what language(s) is programming delivered: French, English, or both? What educational approach does the centre follow under Accueillir la petite enfance?