Licensed Daycares in Victoria, BC

Daycare & Childcare in Victoria

Victoria has 328 licensed childcare providers regulated by the Ministry of Education and Child Care (BC). The city's mix leans toward group-care centres: 237 of the 328 providers are licensed centres, while 91 are licensed family homes. Ninety-six per cent of Victoria's listed providers participate in BC's Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI), which lowers fees at the provider level so eligible families pay reduced rates from enrolment day rather than claiming money back. Victoria's childcare sector includes a varied range of options: from co-operative preschools and Montessori programs to school-based out-of-school care and community-centre facilities. MapleCub lists all licensed providers so you can filter by care type and subsidy participation and build a targeted shortlist.

What to know about childcare in Victoria

Finding Licensed Childcare in Victoria

Victoria's 328 licensed providers give families a meaningful range of choices. With 237 licensed centres and 91 family homes, the city skews toward centre-based care more than many BC communities, which can be an advantage if you prefer the accountability and programming structure that a dedicated facility provides.

Centre types in Victoria

Victoria's centre landscape is unusually varied. It includes Montessori schools such as St. Christopher's Montessori School and Selkirk Montessori School; campus-based care through Camosun College Child Care Services (with both Interurban and Lansdowne campus locations); community-operated programs like James Bay Community School Day Care and Victoria Children's Centre; and school-based out-of-school care programs such as Margaret Jenkins OSC, Sundance Out of School Care, and Lochside After School Program. Co-operative models like Lakehill Preschool Co-Op and Oak Bay Parent Owned Preschool offer a hands-on alternative for families who want to be more involved in governance and operations.

Licensed family homes

Ninety-one of Victoria's providers are licensed family homes: smaller, residential-setting options regulated by the Ministry of Education and Child Care. They suit families looking for a quieter group and a single primary caregiver. As with centres, all are subject to provincial inspection and licensing requirements.

CCFRI and what it means for Victoria families

BC's Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is a voluntary provincial program where participating providers accept reduced fee maximums and receive a government subsidy in return. Ninety-six per cent of Victoria's listed providers participate. The practical benefit for families is that the reduced fee is built into the provider's schedule. You do not apply for it or wait for reimbursement. Income-eligible families can additionally apply for the Affordable Child Care Benefit to reduce costs further. Always ask prospective providers for their current fee schedule in writing and confirm their CCFRI participation status.

Licensing in BC

The Ministry of Education and Child Care licences all childcare providers in British Columbia, including every one of the 328 on MapleCub's Victoria list. Licences require qualified staff (including ECE certification for centre directors), minimum space per child, regulated ratios, and periodic inspection. You can verify a provider's current licence and inspection history through the ChildCareBC public registry.

Questions to ask on a tour

When visiting a Victoria centre or family home, ask: What is the caregiver-to-child ratio in the room my child would join? How long has the primary educator or caregiver been in this role? What is the daily routine? How do you handle illnesses and emergency closures? Do you participate in CCFRI, and what are the monthly fees? What is the current waitlist length? How do you communicate with parents: app, daily notes, phone?

Using MapleCub

MapleCub lets you filter Victoria's 328 providers by care type and subsidy participation. Sorting by area or care type first will help narrow a large list to a manageable shortlist before you begin touring or calling.