London celebrates grand opening of John Paul II YMCA Child Care
Today, Mayor Josh Morgan was joined by Councillor Peter Cuddy (Ward 3), Mark Santandrea, Executive Superintendent of Education for the London District Catholic School Board, and Kelly Ziegner, Chief Operating Officer of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, to celebrate the official opening of a new child care centre at John Paul II Catholic Secondary School.
The new centre, located at 1300 Oxford Street East, opened in January 2026 and provides 47 licensed spaces for toddlers and preschoolers, helping respond to the growing demand for child care in the community.
YMCA Child Care Centre is located within a dedicated area of John Paul II Catholic Secondary School, and features play-based learning environments designed to support strong connections between children and educators, along with dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage active, inclusive learning.
The project was made possible through a partnership between the City of London and the London District Catholic School Board. The City contributed $440,000 through Municipal Child Care Expansion funding, while the school board worked with YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to build the child care centre within the school. Locating child care in a high school creates unique opportunities for learning and collaboration between students and young children.
As the Service System Manager under the Child Care and Early Years Act, the City of London is responsible for planning, funding, and supporting licensed child care and early years services that promote positive outcomes for children and families.
The new spaces also support the goals of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, which aims to improve affordability and expand access to licensed child care for families. Fee subsidy is also available through the City’s Child Care and Early Years division to help eligible families with the cost of care. These programs are supported with funding from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
“In order to build a thriving and inclusive city, we need to ensure families have the supports they need to succeed. Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care is one of the most important investments we can make in London’s future," said Mayor Josh Morgan. “This new centre is a great example of what we can achieve through strong community partnerships, and I’m grateful to all involved for helping to create opportunities that will benefit children and Londoners for years to come.”
“We are pleased to partner with the City of London and the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario to celebrate the opening of a new licensed childcare program at John Paul II Catholic Secondary School. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to supporting families and strengthening our community," said Vince Romeo, Director of Education, London District Catholic School Board. “Through thoughtful planning and continued collaboration with our community partners, we are creating welcoming and safe spaces, where students and families can feel supported and thrive.”
“YMCA, child care is where belonging begins — where children are seen, celebrated, supported, and encouraged to learn through play every day," said Andrew Lockie, CEO, YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. “We’re proud to partner with the City of London and the London District Catholic School Board to open John Paul II YMCA Child Care and add 47 new licensed spaces for toddlers and preschoolers. This centre will help more families access high-quality, inclusive care close to home, so parents can work and children can thrive.”
YMCA of Southwestern Ontario is a non-profit, community-based organization with more than 170 years of experience in delivering inclusive programs and services for children and families. The YMCA has operated day care nurseries in southwestern Ontario since the early 1900s and began offering licensed child care programs in the late 1960s.
With the addition of John Paul II YMCA Child Care, London’s licensed child care system now grows to 218 licensed child care locations, providing 17,821 child care spaces for children up to 12 years of age across London and Middlesex.
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