Picton – The County of Prince Edward is pleased to partner with Reaching for Rainbows to launch a pilot program to expand access to child care options.
“We are thrilled to be working together with Reaching for Rainbows on advancing our shared commitment to strengthening child care availability in Prince Edward County,” says Mayor Steve Ferguson. “The shortage of child care spaces has far-reaching impacts on the entire community, not just for caregivers and families. A lack of child care spaces affects health care, poverty, food security, and the overall well-being of the local economy.”
The Economic Development Action Plan, presented to Council on January 30, 2025, highlighted a shortage of child care, as well as a shortage of care outside of “typical” hours, creating challenges for both families and local businesses. As a result, Council directed staff to form a task team to explore options for increasing child care availability.
The work of the task team resulted in the Child Care Action Plan that identified several priorities and action items. This new pilot program, delivered by Reaching for Rainbows, will address one of those priorities by creating child minding and after-hours child care options.
“This pilot program is an exciting development, and we look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on children, caregivers, and the community as a whole,” says Beth Lafay, Executive Director of Reaching for Rainbows. “Together, we can build on each other’s strengths and explore initiatives that respond to the needs of local families.”
This child care pilot program is made possible through funding from The County Foundation’s Vital Impact Fund with support from the municipality.
As of fall 2025, close to 400 children ages 0 – 6 were on The HUB Child & Family Centre waiting list, in addition to numerous school-aged children. While the primary responsibility for child care lies with the provincial and federal governments, this pilot demonstrates how the municipality and partner organizations can take proactive, short-term steps to support families until more spaces are created.
This program represents a practical, community-driven approach to addressing immediate child care challenges while building a stronger foundation for long-term growth, workforce participation, and family well-being in Prince Edward County.
Two new child care programs will be available in 2026:
Child-Minding
On select Fridays, parents and caregivers can drop their children (ages 2-5) off at Reaching for Rainbows and enjoy a comfortable co‑working space upstairs at The Andrew to work remotely, job‑search, study, or simply have some focused time. This program is licensed and follows the Province of Ontario’s early learning education and care regulations. Advanced registration is required to ensure ratios are being met.
After-hours childcare
In partnership with Reaching for Rainbows, after-hours child care is being piloted as a support to parents and caregivers who work outside of “typical” weekday daytime business hours. After-hours child care will be available through Reaching for Rainbows on select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays into the Fall.
For more information and registration, visit https://reachingforrainbows.com/childcare-projects.
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For media inquiries, please contact Mark Kerr, Communications and Consultation Supervisor, at 613.476.2148 ext. 1009 or by email at mkerr@pecounty.on.ca