Welcome. Joining our waitlist is a crucial step in your child care journey. Please read the Waitlist FAQ’s before you continue to ensure you understand the process. We hope to one day welcome you off the waitlist and into our programs.

Waitlist FAQs

Why Waitlist?

When a space becomes available at our centers, we will prioritize our waitlisted families to determine which child is eligible to fill the space.

How do we determine which child is eligible for the space?

A variety of factors are taken into consideration when filling spaces in our centers, which include but are not limited to:

1. The age of the child at the time of enrollment. We will determine which program the child is eligible for and what spaces we have available at that time.
2. Priority waitlist - We offer priority to children who are already enrolled in our program for internal transfer and also to their siblings.
3. Waitlist registration date - If several children are eligible for the same spot, we will reference the waitlist registration date to decide whom to offer the spot.

When do spots generally open?

Most movement occurs in August and September each year. This is when the older children leave for kindergarten which leads to vacancies for the children to move up to the next program internally. We will contact you when we get to your name on the waitlist and when we have a space that meets your needs. If you have not heard from us by the end of August, all of our programs are likely at full capacity. Please refrain from repeated status check requests.

Tours

Private tours are given to families when a space is being offered to them. We refrain from offering public tours to avoid disruption to our educators, children, and ongoing programs that may occur with an excessive number of tours.

Our annual Open House will be hosted on May 22, 2024, from 6 - 8 pm. The Open House is an inclusive public event and registration is not required. All of our locations will be opened.

What is the typical wait time?

The typical wait time is about 2 years but sometimes can be longer depending on the type of care you need and the locations you are looking for. As our infants in our care have priority to move directly into our Toddler program which is why many families on our lists are waiting for 3-5 years old care. It is very rare to be offered a space in one of our Toddler programs and this only occurs if a family has made a decision to withdraw their child. Infant care is challenging to secure so it is in your best interest to have a few options.

Please note that the 3-5 programs at our larger locations such as West Cambie, Gardens, Cranberry, and Bowling Green are more challenging to get into because children typically transition internally to the next program.

Annual Waitlist Update

Every Spring, we conduct an annual waitlist update during which we reach out to our waitlisted families, recognizing that their childcare needs may have evolved since they registered. This update typically finalized in May. During this time, we reassess whether we have the capacity to reopen our General Waitllist to new registrants.

Vancouver Coastal Health Richmond Employee

In our ongoing efforts to support the health of our community, Starting April 1, Bowling Green Children’s Centre will provide priority access to child-care spaces for Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Ricmond staff children. This initiative is part of broader work to ensure that health-care professionals can continue to provide the best possible care to our Richmond community while managing their family responsibilities. This change also supports the long-term attraction and retention of health-care staff and medical staff to Richmond, working toward a healthier community long-term.

Although prioritizing enrollment of children of VCH Richmond staff and medical staff, Bowling Green Children’s Centre remains dedicated to providing high-quality child-care services, maintaining inclusive practices, and supporting all children's development and well-being.