StrongStart Early Learning

StrongStart is a free drop-in program offered to parents and caregivers with children ages zero to five years old.  StrongStart program emphasizes learning through play, language and positive social interactions.

StrongStart provides a rich learning environment, designed for early learning development.  Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages.  The overall learning experience is shared as parents and caregivers attend with their children and are encouraged to get involved in activities like telling stories, playing games and serving healthy snacks.  English as a first language is not necessary to attend a StrongStart program.

If you are interested in seeing what a circle time looks like in the classroom, please visit Circle Time Videos to see some of our facilitators.

There are 19 StrongStart programs operating in elementary schools across Vancouver. If you are looking for resources to use at home, please visit our StrongStart Online Resources for more ideas on activities, songs, and stories.

Check the table at the bottom for StrongStart Centres in your neighbourhood. To view a location map, please check our StrongStart Flyer.

Program Details:

• All Vancouver StrongStart programs are operating on a drop-in format on a first-come first-served basis. 
• We are open Monday to Friday. Please check below for our closure schedule and hours of operation at each centre.
• Each family can have only one adult and up to three children. 
• The number of times you can attend per week is dependent on your center. Please check with your facilitator when you drop-in. 
• You will be required to sign-in when you enter the classroom. Please do not attend if you or your child is sick.
• Frequent handwashing is encouraged. 

Returning Families:

If your child has previously enrolled and participated in StrongStart, there's no requirement to re-register them for the same StrongStart center. Please download and bring in completed Media and CASL Consent Forms to your StrongStart centre if this is your first visit this school year.

New Families:

In order to register your child for StrongStart, please complete below steps.

Step 1: Complete an online application form

Step 2: Verifying Documentation

• Please bring in below documents to your primary StrongStart centre for verification on your first visit. Appointment is not required. Please drop-in during operation hours.
• Documents verification can also be done at the Early Learning Centre at Mackenzie Elementary School (Room 169 - 960 39th Ave E, Vancouver) between 9:30am - 12:30pm or 2pm - 3:30pm Monday to Friday. On October 2nd, the Early Learning Centre will not be open in the afternoon. 

^{Proof of Child’s Birthdate}

^{One of:}

^{□ Canadian birth certificate}

^{□ Canadian passport}

^{□ Immigration Canada Document}

^{□ Permanent Resident Card (front and back)}

^{Proof of Residency}

^{One of:}

^{□ BC Driver’s License or Enhanced BC Driver’s License showing parent’s/guardian’s name}

^{□ Hydro/Gas/Cable Bill, showing parent’s/guardian’s name}

^{□ Utility/Municipal Tax bill, showing parent’s/guardian’s name}

^{□ Residential Tenancy Agreement, showing parent’s/guardian’s name}

• Please also download and bring in completed Media and CASL Consent Forms to each centre you attend. 
• You are not required to bring in a printed copy of the application form that you receive to your email after online application is completed. 

Changing locations: 

If you like to change a StrongStart location or add a location, please email your request to strongstart@vsb.bc.ca with your child’s legal name, date of birth, and assigned sex at birth. 

Important Dates and Closure Schedule:

Friday, September 6, 2024 - Documents verification day for new families. New families are welcome to drop-in to their primary centre during operation hours to complete documents verification. If your primary centre is Tecumseh, Friday, September 13th will be the documents verification day. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - First day of the program for the 2024-2025 school year. All our centres will re-open (except Xpey' and Tecumseh location).
Friday, September 13, 2024 - Xpey' StrongStart will re-open. Tecumseh StrongStart will be open for documents verification. Queen Alexsandra StrongStart will be closed for both AM and PM.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - Tecumseh StrongStart will be open for the first day of the program.
Friday, September 20, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Monday, September 23, 2024 - Xpey' StrongStart will be closed. 
Friday, September 27, 2024 - Champlain Annex, Collingwood AM/PM and Mt. Pleasant will be closed.
Friday, October 25, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Friday, November 8, 2024 - All StrongStart will be closed.
Friday, November 22, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3, 2025 - All StrongStart centres will be closed for Winter Break.
Monday, January 6, 2025 - All StrongStart centres will re-open after Winter Break.

Please note that all StrongStart Centres will also be closed on any statutory holidays.

Vancouver School Board StrongStart Early Learning Centres

A StrongStart location map can also be found in the link below. Please choose "StrongStart Early Learning" under "Search by Program" drop down menu.

School Directory and Map

If you have questions about our StrongStart program, please contact

604-713-4445

 or strongstart@vsb.bc.ca

View our Preparing for Kindergarten booklet: 

• English - Preparing for Kindergarten
• Spanish - Preparación para el Kinder
• Chinese - 为上幼儿园做准备
• Vietnamese - Chuẩn Bị cho Lớp Mẫu Giáo
• Arabic - إعداد ا أ لطفال للروضة