Industry Insight: Space Allocation in Alberta

What new and expanding child care operators need to understand before planning their next step.

One of the most common questions we receive from operators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders is:

“Can I still open a daycare in Alberta?”

The answer is YES.

You can still open a child care program in Alberta. You can open as a non-profit or for-profit operator. You can apply for licensing. You can build a program, serve families, hire staff, and operate successfully within the current system.

But in today’s environment, the most important question is not simply whether you can open.

The more important question is:

Will your program receive Affordability Grant funding?

And the answer to that is:

It depends.

Opening and Funding Are Not the Same Thing

This is where many new operators get confused.

Licensing and funding are connected, but they are not the same decision. A program may be able to move forward operationally, but that does not automatically mean it will receive the same funding access as another program in another location, at another time, or under another policy framework.

That distinction matters.

For many operators, Affordability Grant funding is not a small detail. It can significantly impact the financial model, parent fee structure, enrolment strategy, and long-term sustainability of a program.

Opening without understanding the funding landscape can create serious financial pressure later.

What Operators Need to Watch

Funding access in Alberta is currently shaped by several moving parts. It is time-sensitive, policy-driven, and not guaranteed.

Key considerations may include:

• the current 12-month extension framework

• the timing of your application and licensing

• your program type and operating model

• your location and local demand

• what policy changes may come after April 2027

This is where we are seeing the most confusion — and the most risk — for new and expanding operators.

A location may appear strong on paper. The community may need spaces. Families may be looking for care. But if the funding pathway is unclear, the business model needs to be reviewed carefully before major commitments are made.

Why Timing Matters

In child care development, timing is not just an administrative detail.

The timing of your lease, licensing process, renovations, staffing, enrolment, and funding application can all affect how prepared your program is to operate sustainably.

For new operators, this means planning needs to happen before major financial decisions are locked in.

Before signing a lease, committing to renovations, or building projections based on assumed funding, operators should understand what is known, what is uncertain, and what risks need to be built into the plan.

A Better Question to Ask

Instead of only asking:

“Can I open?”

Operators should also be asking:

“Can I open with a sustainable financial model under the current funding environment?”

That is the more strategic question.

It helps operators think beyond licensing alone and look at the full picture: funding, parent fees, enrolment, staffing, community need, timing, and long-term viability.

How We Can Help

At The Churcher Group, we support operators in understanding the practical realities behind child care development, funding access, licensing preparation, and strategic planning.

If you are considering opening or expanding a child care program, a strategy session can help you walk through:

• your specific location and timing

• funding eligibility considerations

• risk factors and planning strategies

• what to watch for in upcoming policy changes

• how your assumptions may affect your financial model

The goal is not to create fear.

The goal is to help you make informed decisions before the expensive decisions happen.

Initial consultation

30min

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