University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre

Was on a waiting list forever. They obviously have a very desirable program so I kept contacting them even as my child was at another care center and wanted to enrol them here as it was much closer as well. Nobody responded to me in two years as to where my son was on their “list”. I finally got ahold of someone who said they only accept applications from people employed or going to the university, even though they accept anyones application. Since they also accept subsidies from Wellington County I suspect what they are doing is illegal and that instead of wait lists they simply pick and choose who they want. They should be investigated.

This used to be the best daycare in town but a couple of years ago they changed the director and it is now an indoctrination camp for your 3 year old.They dropped meat and milk from the menu because it is 'not inclusive', go figure. They also talk about residential schools, Martin Luther King, Rosa Park and Anne Frank- all subjects that are not meant for little children without the necessary background knowledge and maturity. Some kids were really afraid when told how the Nazis went after Anne Frank.It is a shame because educators are top notch and they have lots of resources.

A wonderful child care facility.

One of the very best daycares in Guelph! I could rave about this centre for days. If you are so lucky to have your child here, you won't be disappointed. Amazing staff, management and philosophy.

Best child care ever! Wonderful facilities, staff, and the greatest teachers and educators. Love the CCLC!!

Two things: First - I highly approve of the curriculum and how they teach and engage with the students. I'm associated with schools that do the same and it's very important to me that my daughter has access to this kind of learning and engagement with nature and people who appreciate and are passionate about that kind of programming - 5 stars. Second - Daycare is clearly the start of class warfare and this daycare is a gross example of its elitist nature. I live 5 minutes away - walking. I'm not a student at the UoG but at the UoW part-time. I'm a single dad. I work two jobs and at one I'm an outdoor educator. I don't have a lot of money and need support from Wellington County (they are amazing). My daughter goes to a daycare where there is much teacher turnover and their outdoor play area is a slab of pavement in the middle of an industrial zone. I've had my daughter on a waiting list for nearly 2 years and had several conversations with the GCC&LC. They made it seem like I had a chance. No chance actually. I talked to the person in charge of admissions today and while she was lovely, she made it clear, finally, that my daughter was not welcome there. She suggested I enrol my daughter at the UoW (Waterloo) but didn't feel like explaining my situation - I don't drive to Waterloo at all and work on my degree from home - I can see the daycare from my window. Thus, because of it's lack of inclusiveness, exclusivity, and inability to work with and communicate well with someone like myself in my situation - deservedly one star. I'm disappointed they weren't more clear at the start. I would have worked harder to get my daughter in somewhere else with similar programs but held hope because as an environmentalist, avid outdoors and nature advocate, this was the best spot for my daughter. But we are not welcome.

Amazing educators.

Looks can be deceptive; much like some of the decision-makers at CCLC. As some of the other reviewers have mentioned, this used to be a good daycare, but no longer lives up to the reputation it was once afforded. My child had been on the waitlist there since birth, mostly because his sibling attended many years earlier. However, after almost two years waiting, and numerous emails and phone calls, there were apparently still 50+ people ahead of us. Staff members have been completely dishonest and under-handed about the wait list, and initial assurances that there would be space. They fudge the numbers and select from the list at their own discretion and preference, rather than due process and fairness. There is zero accountability, even to the Ministry, because they vouch for each other to make the story work for their own self-serving agenda. From our perspective, it’s clearly just a business with no soul; and is devoid of compassion or kindness to children, or to its extended community. The upside to our unfortunate experience is that their indiscretions have ultimately proven beneficial for us. If these people hadn’t been so dishonest and deceitful, we wouldn’t have sought out or found the best daycare in Guelph. We are now so relieved we didn’t get a spot on that ridiculous CCLC wait list. The takeaway from our experience is that once we stop resisting what is supposed to happen instead of what we think should happen, we find ourselves on the right path, and a much better path. We are so grateful our precious little one belongs to a daycare community that genuinely cares about children, and is based on a foundation of kindness, love, peace, and joy; a foundation that the university corporation and its directors would do well to learn from. If given an opportunity now, they couldn’t pay me to put my child in the hands of such self-serving and hypocritical human beings. Finding quality early years childcare is crucial, swerve CCLC and its fake appearances at all costs.

Incredible facility and staff!

Best childcare and not only in Guelph. You would be the luckiest parent(s), if you get a spot here.We are forever grateful