Schools and childcare
Steps, in order
- Register children at the school that serves your home address; bring proof of address, the child's identity documents, and immunization records if you have them.
- Ask the school about language support for newcomer children and about breakfast or lunch programs.
- For childcare, expect waitlists in larger cities: apply to several licensed centres early, and ask your settlement agency or municipality about subsidies.
- Keep a list of school contacts, pickup rules, and school-holiday dates; Canadian schools communicate mostly by email and parent portals.
Rules differ by province: School registration is local: the school board or district for your address handles enrolment. Childcare subsidies and waitlists are provincial or municipal. Start at your province's official site (below), then follow its links to health, driving, tenancy or schools — never assume one national rule.
Province official sites — start here
- British Columbia — official site
- Alberta — official site
- Saskatchewan — official site
- Manitoba — official site
- Ontario — official site
- Quebec — official site
- New Brunswick — official site
- Nova Scotia — official site
- Prince Edward Island — official site
- Newfoundland and Labrador — official site
- Yukon — official site
- Northwest Territories — official site
- Nunavut — official site
Official & finder links
Check before you act: Immunization requirements and subsidy rules vary by province and were not verified province by province; the page must point to the local school board and municipality rather than stating one national rule.
General information only — not legal or financial advice. Rules, benefit amounts and local services change. Use the official or finder links above to confirm details before acting. No local addresses or phone numbers are listed here on purpose — use the national finders above for your area.