Daycares in Thunder Bay

47 licensed child care programs in Thunder Bay

Daycares in Thunder Bay at a glance

Thunder Bay has 47 licensed child care programs in our directory, including 46 child care centres and 1 home child care agency. 36 offer full day care, the usual choice for working parents. 10 only run programs before and after school, for school age children.

For parents with unusual schedules, 3 offer extended hours and 1 opens on weekends.

4 offer services in French, and 9 received their first licence in 2024 or later.

How to get a spot in Thunder Bay

In Thunder Bay, you apply to each centre and ask to join its waitlist. Sign up early, especially for an infant. Child care fee subsidies in this area are managed by the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board.

Most licensed programs in Ontario take part in CWELCC, the Canada wide early learning and child care program. In 2026, the base fee for a child under 6 in a participating program is capped at $22 a day, and the provincial average is about $19. Programs outside CWELCC set their own fees, so ask each centre.

Need care outside daycare hours?

A babysitter can cover evenings, weekends, PD days or the wait for a daycare spot. Find a babysitter in Ontario for free on SOS-Nounou.

Source, Ontario Ministry of Education, Licensed child care facilities in Ontario, data as of August 31, 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence (Ontario).