274 licensed daycares in Quebec, QC

Daycare & Childcare in Quebec

Québec City has 275 licensed childcare centres (all group centres, with no licensed family homes in this dataset) regulated by the Ministère de la Famille (Québec). Québec operates one of Canada's most established publicly subsidised childcare systems, built around Centres de la Petite Enfance (CPEs) and subsidised garderies. In Québec City, 189 of the 275 centres (69%) are part of the subsidised network, offering parents provincially set daily contribution rates that are among the lowest in Canada. Centre sizes range from 10 to 100 spaces, with a median of 66. The vast majority of centres in this directory serve infants through preschool-aged children. This guide explains the CPE and garderie distinction, and how to navigate your search.

What to know about childcare in Quebec

**Québec's unique childcare system**

Childcare in Québec operates differently from the rest of Canada. The province funds a network of non-profit Centres de la Petite Enfance (CPEs) and subsidised private garderies, in which parents pay a government-regulated daily contribution rather than full market rates. This system has been in place since the late 1990s and is administered by the Ministère de la Famille. The 275 centres in Québec City's licensed network include both CPEs and garderies, some operating multiple installations under a single organisational name.

**CPEs vs. subsidised garderies vs. unsubsidised garderies**

A CPE (Centre de la Petite Enfance) is a non-profit organisation licensed and funded by the Ministère de la Famille. CPEs often operate multiple installations under one legal entity: for example, Centre de la Petite Enfance la Ribambelle, CPE la Bougeotte, CPE la Croisée (Milpa, Sophie, and La Grimace installations), CPE les P'Tits Papillons, CPE Allô Mon Ami (operating le Petit Bourg, le Petit Domaine, and others), and CPE la Courtepointe. A subsidised private garderie (garderie subventionnée) is a for-profit or non-profit centre that receives provincial subsidy funding, allowing it to offer the regulated daily contribution rate. Garderies that are not subsidised charge unregulated market rates. In Québec City, 189 of 275 centres (69%) operate under the subsidised model.

**Centre sizes and age coverage**

Among the 275 centres in the directory, capacity is known and ranges from 10 to 100 spaces, with a median of 66. All 275 centres serve toddlers (1–2 years) and preschool-aged children (3–4 years). A large majority (207 of 275) also accept infants under 12 months. Notably, none of the centres in this dataset include school-age programming. Families with children five and older should explore after-school care options separately.

**Navigating the waitlist system**

Subsidised spaces in Québec City are managed through the Portail d'inscription aux services de garde, the province's centralised online waitlist platform (operated by the Ministère de la Famille). Families register through the Portail to request spaces at CPEs and subsidised garderies; you cannot go on the waitlist by contacting the centre directly. Unsubsidised garderies manage their own enrolment. Demand for subsidised spaces consistently exceeds supply, so registering as soon as your child is born, before your desired start date, is strongly advised.

**Provider examples in the directory**

The directory includes well-known Québec City CPEs such as CPE la Butte à Moineaux (with installations La Cabane à Moineaux and Le Chant des Moineaux), CPE Passe-Partout (installation Les Saules), CPE la Petite Cité (installation La Charmille), CPE Jardin Bleu (installation Benoît-XV), and CPE Ma Belle Grenouille (installation Le Tremplin). Subsidised garderies include Garderie la Maison des Enfants, Garderie les Petits Lutins, Garderie les Tournesols, Garderie Moi Mes Souliers 1, Garderie un Jeu d'Enfant, and others.