The City undertakes an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to select an operator for a newly built or renovated child care centre or an EarlyON Child and Family Centre. We look for not-for-profit organizations who are committed to providing accessible, equitable, high quality services that welcome all families and are responsive to local community needs.
Information regarding the Child Care Centre EOI process can be found on the Expression of Interest to Operate a Child Care page.
| Centre | Address | Licence Capacity | Total Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Emerson | 1295 Dupont St (Wallace Emerson Community Centre) | Infants: 10 Toddlers: 20 Preschool: 32 |
62 |
| 117 Broadway | 117 Broadway Ave. | Infants: 10 Toddlers: 20 Preschool: 32 |
62 |
| EOI Name | Address | Centre Status | Selected operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 292 Dundas | 292 Dundas Ave W. | Closed | TBA week of March 17 |
| Crosstown (Eglinton/Don Mills) | 135 Kyle Lowry Road | Closed | TBA week of March 17 |
| 3450 Dufferin (York Heights Child Care) | 15 York Garden Way | Closed | Canadian Mothercraft Society |
| The Well | 440 Front Street West | Closed | Macaulay Centres for Children |
| North East Scarborough | 8450 Sheppard Avenue East | Closed | Red Apple Day Care |
| Liberty Village Child Care Centre | 19 Western Battery Road | Closed | Network Child Care Services |
| Ethennonnhawahstihnen Child Care Centre | 100 Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane | Closed | Petit Pearson Childcare Centre |
| Name | Expression of Interest deadline | Expected opening date | Selected operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ward 7 EOI | Completed | March 1, 2024 | Jane-Finch Community Centre |
| Additional EarlyON Program Funding for Toronto Danforth | Completed | January 2023 | Eastview Community Centre |
| Additional EarlyON Program Funding for Spadina-Fort York | Completed | January 2023 | West Neighbourhood House |
| Indigenous EarlyON Child and Family Centre | Completed | October 1, 2019 | ENAGB |
| Centre in northwest Toronto | Completed | January 1, 2019 | Braeburn Neighbourhood Place |
| Centre in northeast Toronto | Completed | January 1, 2019 | Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA) |
| 2SLGBTQ+ mobile program | Completed | January 1, 2019 | The 519 |
Toronto Children’s Services is seeking an Indigenous-led organization to deliver a Licensed Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the new Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training Centre at 433 Cherry Street.
Located in Toronto’s West Donlands District, the Indigenous Hub will house the Licensed Child Care Centre (Floor 3) and the EarlyON Child and Family Centre (Floor 4) providing spaces for children, families, and caregivers to be immersed in Indigenous culture, programming, ceremony, and ways of knowing and being.
The intention for this Expression of Interest is to identify and confirm a qualified, Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization to operate both the Licensed Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre.
To encourage and promote a diversity of operators, preference may be given to organizations that are interested in operating a Licensed Child Care Centre for the first time. Previous or current experience operating a Licensed Child Care Centre is not required.
What once thrived on this land, groves of birch trees are now emulated by BDQ Quadrangle Architects and their Indigenous partners, 2 Row Architects, the purpose built, carved, concrete skin. The 5-story Indigenous Hub houses the Licensed Child Care Centre (Floor 3) and the EarlyON Child and Family Centre (Floor 4) that provides spaces for children, families, and caregivers to be immersed in Indigenous culture, programming, ceremony, and ways of knowing and being. Below on the first and second floors, Miziwe Biik will open a new employment and training centre where educational opportunities for adults will be offered.
The building sits in Toronto’s West Donlands District, within the 2.4 acre Block 10 and resides between Cherry Street, Cooperage Street, Front and Mill Streets. This block will offer condo and rental accommodation, the brand new Anishnawbe Health Centre & Public Plaza, plus the former Canary Restaurant that provides a familiar beacon within the newly built-out neighbourhood.
The adjacent Anishnawbe Health Centre offers child, youth & family programming, and maternal & infant care amongst an array of services that nicely dovetails with the family-oriented services provided within the Licensed Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre. Many families will find this hub to be a place to call a home away from home.
Within the block, there will be a total of 206 residential condo units ranging in size from 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom + den located within a 13 storey building. An adjacent 11 storey apartment building will include 237 rental units ranging in size from studio to 3 bedroom units. The base will feature 21 townhouse units.
Below the Miziwe Biik building is a common underground garage where the Licensed Child Care Centre can lease two parking spaces for drop-off & pick-up purposes. Families attending the EarlyON Child and Family Centre will have access to paid visitor parking. Outside the front door of the Miziwe Biik building runs the Cherry Street streetcar for easy access to the Hub.
Families that enter the building will be immediately immersed in symbolic indigenous design artwork from well known Anishinaabe artist, Joseph Sagaj. A common elevator located in the building’s Lobby leads up to the Licensed Child Care Centre on the 3rd floor and the EarlyON Child and Family Centre on the 4th floor.
Entering the 3rd floor’s secured front door, families will find a 49 space centre complete with one 10 space Infant Playroom, one 15 space Toddler Playroom and one 24 space Preschool Playroom.
Each playroom offers a full built-in servery with adult height sink, child height sink, microwave and bar-sized fridge. The Infant Playroom will be outfitted with a full-size fridge. All Playrooms have their own adjacent washrooms complete with appropriately sized toilets, child height sinks and change tables. A dedicated Licensed Child Care Centre fire exit is located off the Lobby to ensure children and staff can exit the building safely.
A large indoor Stroller Storage room is available for families to leave strollers at drop-off time. The Centre Supervisor’s office is centralized and ideally situated to monitor the pulse of the comings and goings. A large Staff Room will enable employee breaks, get-togethers and space to program plan. Other interior features include: a dedicated Staff washroom, a barrier free washroom for parent use, a Laundry Room, Custodian’s Room and separate Garbage Room.
The Main Servery has an open concept with a child-height counter and sink where nutritional programming can be offered. Inside this kitchen space, staff will find a residential stove, fridge, freezer, a commercial dishwasher, triple sink, handwash sink, a vegetable prep sink and separate pantry.
A rear fire exit stairwell provides a convenient link between the Licensed Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre. Out the East corridor door of the 3rd floor, is a large vestibule that leads to the three outdoor Playgrounds. Each playground has unique play features that will enhance Indigenous outdoor programming and the entire outdoor space is surrounded by a large transparent guard around the perimeter.
Up the Elevator to the 4th Floor, families and caregivers will enter a secured door into a large Welcoming Area that provides coat and diaper bag storage plus a convenient adult and child height sinks. A large Stroller Room will provide ample room for families to leave their strollers and car seats while they visit the program.
The office is centralized and overlooks the Gathering Place where the majority of programming will take place. A spacious creative area overlooks the Gathering Space and faces a Community Servery that is outfitted with a child-height counter and enclosed workspace for adults, complete with a triple sink, a commercial dishwasher, stove, microwave, fridge, freezer and handwash sink.
The EarlyON Child and Family Centre also offers a Quiet Room for families that need some downtime and a separate Meeting Room that will have multi-use options. A Family Washroom is tucked behind the Gathering Area which features both adult and child height toilets, sinks and diaper change areas. The space also has a barrier-free washroom.
Behind the Meeting Room and creative area is an Administration Area that has a small servery outfitted with a sink, residential dishwasher, microwave and fridge. The Lan Closet and Staff Washroom lead off from this area. The EarlyON Child and Family Centre also has a dedicated outdoor roof deck that will be outfitted with a transparent perimeter guard and features that will enhance Indigenous programming. A large Storage Room connects the outdoor area with the 4th floor Lobby providing convenient access for indoor and outdoor storage.
Former Chief R. Stacey Laforme from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation stated at the groundbreaking ceremony that …”Seeing collaborations like this Hub, where all walks of life come together to make a dream into a reality, is very much in keeping with out traditional values. It is an example of a good path, and it gives us hope for the future”… The Licenced Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre located in the Miziwe Biik building will embrace not only the Indigenous culture but be an important link in the hub that will generate leadership to the next generation by travelling down that “good path”.
The selected organization must enter into a Service Agreement with Toronto Children’s Services for both Child Care Fee Subsidy and the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Program. A Service Agreement to provide EarlyON services will also be required.
A program operating budget of up to $350 000.00 a year is available to cover all program costs. Lease fees will be outside of the operating budget. The EarlyON program must operate for 30 hours a week and include some evening and/or weekend programming.
Upon request, Toronto Children’s Services will arrange a one-year mentorship program with Toronto Children’s Staff, including a Toronto Early Learning and Child Care Services staff, to provide one-on-one support with the start-up and administration of the licenced child care centre.
The Licensed Child Care Centre will have space for 49 children:
The EarlyON Child and Family Centre includes 6000+ square feet (sq ft) of programming space
Both Toronto Public Health and Ministry of Education approvals in principle have been completed for the Licensed Child Care Centre and EarlyON Child and Family Centre.
The successful Organization will be required to enter (as Tenant), into a lease agreement (the “Lease”) with Miziwe Biik (as Landlord).
Miziwe Biik, a not for profit charitable organization, is making available for lease two (2) full floors in a newly constructed building which premises is custom built/designed for licensed child care and family resource program uses. Basic business terms will be included in a completely “net” free lease. The term of the lease will be 10 years.
Two reserved, underground parking spaces are also available for lease.
Insurance: The Tenant shall, at their own cost and expense, obtain its own liability and property insurance.
Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organizations who are actively serving Indigenous children and families and can meet the mandatory submission requirements as stated below, are invited to apply. Complete submissions must be emailed to Sandy.Misthios@toronto.ca and include all the required attachments. Incomplete, or late, applications will not be considered.
The Expression of Interest and selection process consists of two stages:
Stage 1: Organizations email the mandatory submission package requirements to Sandy.Misthios@toronto.ca by Friday November 15, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Please submit the following mandatory requirements:
Completed submission packages will be reviewed by Toronto Children’s Services and submissions that best meet the requirements will proceed to Stage 2.
***Please note late or incomplete packages will not be moved to Stage 2***
Stage 2: Selected organizations will be invited for an in-person interview with a review panel that will include representation from both Toronto Children’s Services and Miziwe Biik.
Decision
The applicant’s Expression of Interest submission that best meets the requirements of the City, is the absolute discretion of the City in consultation with the Review Panel, will be designated as the preferred organization.
No obligation will arise until the Service Agreement or, if applicable, Service Agreement Amendment, based on the accepted Expression of Interest submission, has been authorized and executed by the appropriate City authority.
After receipt of Expression of Interest submissions and at any time prior to the execution of an agreement, the City may request clarification on any items related to the Expression of Interest and conduct negotiations with the preferred organization. The City, at its sole discretion, may adjust the evaluation score or ranking of an applicant as an outcome of the clarification process.
| Events | Date and Time |
| Posting of Expression of Interest | Week of Oct 7 |
| Expression of Interest Information Session
Meeting ID: 282 166 140 418 Passcode: 8er8LN +1 647-749-7152 Phone conference ID: 316 363 361# |
Wednesday November 13, 2024 10 – 11:30 a.m. |
| Site Visit
RSVP for Site Visit to Sandy.Misthios@toronto.ca by Monday Oct 21, 2024 |
Tuesday October 22, 2024 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
|
| Licensing a Child Care Centre Information Session
Meeting ID: 258 024 805 669 Passcode: fBNQ3D Dial in by phone +1 647-749-7152 Phone conference ID: 279 786 539# |
Wednesday October 30, 2024 10 – 11:30 a.m. |
| Expression of Interest Q&A Session
Meeting ID: 281 149 166 918 Passcode: zqJkFN Dial in by phone +1 647-749-7152 Phone conference ID: 936 971 852# Throughout the posting period, questions regarding the Expression of Interest can be emailed to Sandy Misthios at Sandy.Misthios@toronto.ca |
Wednesday November 6, 2024 10 – 11:30 a.m. |
| ***Expression of Interest Closing Date***
Note: Applications must be submitted electronically and emailed to Sandy.Misthios@toronto.ca |
Friday Nov 15, 2024 3 p.m. |
| Toronto Children’s Services review of submission packages | Week of Nov 18 |
| Invitation to Stage 2-In-person Interview | Week of Nov 25 |
| Stage 2 In-person Interview | January 2025 |
| Announcement of Successful Organization | January 2025 |
Transparency, Fairness, Accessibility, Equity, High-Quality
The City is committed to a transparent and fair EOI process.
All EOI submissions will be evaluated based on an organization’s proven ability to provide accessible, equitable and high-quality services to Toronto families and children.