All StrongStart centres are currently open on a drop-in basis.

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. 
• We can only accommodate Vancouver residents.
• Families can be registered for and attend a maximum of 2 StrongStart centres.

Thank you for all your support, cooperation and understanding!

Returning Families:

If you have already registered and attended StrongStart before, there’s no need for you to re-register your child to attend the same StrongStart centre you attended before. Please download and bring in completed Media and CASL Consent Forms to your StrongStart centre if this is your first return this school year. If you were registered at more than 2 locations in the past, please remember that this year, you can only attend a maximum of 2 StrongStart centres.

New Families:

Please drop-in to the StrongStart centre you would like to attend and register your child in-person with a StrongStart facilitator on your first visit. Our registration is open from September to mid-June. 

What you need to bring:

• Please download and bring in a completed registration package to the centre you would like to attend.
• Bring a photocopied proof of child’s birthdate and a proof of residency (showing parent’s name). Acceptable documents are listed on the StrongStart Student Application Form.
• If you would like to attend 2 centres, you will need to download and bring in the above registration package on your first visit to the second location as well. A proof of child’s birthdate and a proof of residency is NOT required at the second location.

StrongStart Closure Schedule:

Monday, November 6, 2023 - Nightingale StrongStart will be closed.
Thursday, November 23, 2023 - Collingwood StrongStart (12:30-3:00PM only) will be closed.
Friday, November 24, 2023 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Friday, December 15, 2023 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Friday, December 22, 2023 to Sunday, January 7, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed for Winter Break.
Monday, January 8, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will re-open after Winter Break.
Monday, January 15, 2024 - Queen Alexandra StrongStart will be closed.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - Douglas, Henderson, Mackenzie, Moberly, Nightingale, Seymour, Thunderbird, and Tillicum Annex StrongStart will be closed.
Friday, January 19, 2024 - Selkirk and Xpey' StrongStart will be closed.
Monday, January 22, 2024 - Champlain Annex, Mt. Pleasant and Waverley StrongStart will be closed.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Collingwood AM/PM, and Grenfell StrongStart will be closed.
Monday, January 29, 2024 - Renfrew StrongStart will be closed.
Friday, February 2, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Friday, February 16, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Friday, March 15, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Monday, March 18 to Monday, April 1, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will re-open after Spring Break.
Monday, April 22, 2024 - All StrongStart centres will be closed.

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