The childcare centre on the rooftop of Eric Hamber Secondary

City-funded rooftop childcare opens at Eric Hamber Secondary

Six new centres opened by 2026 as part of major childcare expansion

May 12 2025 –

This afternoon, the City of Vancouver – together with the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (MPNH), the Vancouver School Board (VSB) and local families – gathered to celebrate the opening of a brand-new, City-funded, not-for-profit childcare centre on the rooftop of Eric Hamber Secondary School. 

Construction of the $14.2 million MPNH Childcare at Eric Hamber was fully funded by the City of Vancouver through development contributions and was purpose-built by the VSB to provide a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment for children aged 0-to-5 years. The 1,770-square-metre centre has space for 69 children. Through a competitive process, the City selected Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House to operate the centre. 

“With nearly 400 new childcare spaces created or funded by the City opening between 2024 and 2026, we’re experiencing the fastest growth in childcare spaces that Vancouver has had in years,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “This progress reflects the dedication and forward-thinking approach of our Council and City staff. While there’s still more work to do to meet the needs of families across Vancouver, I’m incredibly proud that we’re setting the pace alongside our Federal, Provincial, and local partners to deliver more accessible childcare to our communities.”

A significant expansion of childcare in Vancouver

Vancouver is undergoing a significant expansion of non-profit, full-day childcare spaces for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. 

This growth includes the following recently opened and upcoming City-facilitated childcare centres:

  • Marpole Neighbourhood House Childcare at David Lloyd George Elementary School (69-spaces, opened May 2024 in South Vancouver)
  • MPNH Childcare at Eric Hamber Secondary School (69-spaces, opened May 2025 in South Cambie)
  • Henry Hudson Elementary School Childcare (65-spaces of 0-5 childcare, plus an additional 30 spaces of school-age care, opening summer 2025 in Kitsilano)
  • Salmon Stone Childcare Centre (49-spaces of childcare, plus an additional 20 spaces of family programming, opening fall 2025 in West Fraserlands – South Vancouver)
  • Childcare at the new elementary school in Coal Harbour (65 spaces, anticipated opening winter 2026 in Downtown)
  • Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House Childcare (37-spaces, opening 2026 in East Vancouver)

Since Vancouver City Council’s 2022 adoption of Making Strides: Vancouver’s 10-year Childcare Strategy the City has made significant progress developing childcare and finding innovative ways to help implement the Provincial and Federal Governments' vision of a universal early care and learning system. Since the strategy was approved by Council in 2022, more than 1,400 new childcare spaces have become operational.

A progress update on the City’s childcare goals can be found in the February 2025 Childcare Strategy Implementation and Policy Harmonization Council Report (1.6 MB).

Vancouver School Board (VSB) Partnership

The MPNH Childcare at Eric Hamber is a partnership between the City of Vancouver and the VSB. As part of the VSB's seismic replacement program and new school builds, the VSB, with funding from the City and senior government partners, has been able to build childcare facilities on four school rooftops, creating a convenient “one-stop hub” for families. A childcare opened at David Lloyd George Elementary in May 2024, with others soon to open at Henry Hudson Elementary and the new elementary school in Coal Harbour. 

Childcare for strong communities

Affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for families, communities and Vancouver’s workforce. Childcare further promotes gender equity and without accessible childcare, many families struggle to live and work in Vancouver. The City remains committed to expanding access to affordable childcare, ensuring everyone in Vancouver can learn, work and thrive.

Despite these upcoming childcare openings, Vancouver still faces a shortage of childcare compared to the need. City staff continue to work to expand childcare options for families. Some key initiatives underway include:

  • Potential bylaw updates to support greater flexibility for residential-based childcare;
  • Coordination and planning with the downtown business community to identify more opportunities for new childcare spaces; 
  • Exploration of opportunities to develop rapidly deployable childcare (e.g., modular childcare); 
  • Continued efforts to partner with senior government, harmonize childcare policies with the Province, and to streamline childcare development processes.

Quotes

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House - Lorena Jacome, Director of Childcare

“We are thrilled with the opening of the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (MPNH) Childcare at Eric Hamber Secondary. This marks an important expansion of MPNH's childcare and early learning programs to reach more families with young children in the area. The neighbourhood house childcare approach is grounded in reciprocity. We believe that every child, educator, team member and family have something to contribute and to learn from each other, and that as a community, we share a collective responsibility to every member.”

Vancouver School Board - Victoria Jung, Chair

"Equitable childcare options are not just important for families, they are a critical part of our social infrastructure and of our economy at-large. This new rooftop childcare space at Eric Hamber Secondary highlights an innovative and collaborative approach to supporting and investing in children and their families.