StrongStart
Vancouver Strongstart centres are currently closed for summer from July 26th to September 10th. All our centres (except Tecumseh) will re-open on Wednesday, September 11th for the first day of the program. Tecumseh will be open on Wednesday, September 18th. New families are welcome to drop-in to their primary centre on Friday, September 6th to complete documents verification. If your primary centre is Tecumseh, they will be open for documents verification on Friday, September 13th.
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:
StrongStart application for the 2023-2024 school year is now closed. The application link for the 2024-2025 school year will be open on September 3rd.
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.
- New families are welcome to drop-in to their primary StrongStart centre on September 6th (or September 13th for Tecumseh) to complete the documents verification.
- 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 starting September 6th.
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 Tecumseh location).
Friday, September 13, 2024 - Tecumseh StrongStart will be open for documents verification.
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.
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 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.
Champlain Heights Annex Rm 107 - 7835 Champlain Cres. V5S 4J6 TEL: (604) 713-4880 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Queen Alexandra (AM and PM programs) Room 108 - 1300 E. Broadway V5N 1V6 TEL: (604) 713-4599 Mon to Fri (AM) 9:00am-12:00pm Mon to Fri (PM) 1:00pm-3:00pm |
Collingwood (AM and PM programs) Rm 107 - 3417 Euclid Ave. V5R 6H2 TEL: (604) 713-5340 Mon to Fri (AM) 9:00am-12:00pm Mon to Fri (PM) 1:00pm-3:00pm | Renfrew Rm 167 - 3315 E 22nd Ave. V5M 2Z2 TEL: (604) 713-4851 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Cook Rm 160 - 3340 E 54th Ave. V5S 1Z3 TEL: (604) 713-4828 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Selkirk Portable#1 - 1750 E 22nd Ave. V5N 2P7 TEL: (604) 713-4650 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Douglas Rm 106 - 2150 Brigadoon Ave. V5P 3Z7 TEL: (604) 713-4817 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Seymour Rm 012 - 1130 Keefer Street V6A 1Z3 TEL: (604) 713-4641 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Grenfell Rm 103 - 3323 Wellington Ave. V5R 4Y3 TEL: (604) 713-4844 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Tecumseh Portable - 1850 E 41st Ave. V5P 1K9 TEL: (604) 713-5390 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Henderson Rm 179 - 451 E. 53rd Ave. V5X 1J3 TEL: (604) 713-4837 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Thunderbird Rm 108 - 2325 Cassiar Street V5M 3X3 TEL: (604) 713-4611 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Mackenzie Rm 168 - 960 E 39th Ave. V5W 1K8 TEL: (604) 713-4799 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Waverley Rm 107 - 6111 Elliott Street V5S 2M1 TEL: (604) 713-4752 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm |
Moberly Rm 8 - 1000 E. 59th Ave. V5X 1Y7 TEL: (604) 713-4784 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | Xpey' (PM Program) Rm A102 - 1950 E. Hastings Street V5L 1T7 TEL: (604) 713-4696 Monday to Friday 1:00pm-3:00pm |
Mt Pleasant Rm 111 - 2300 Guelph Street V5T 3P1 TEL: (604) 713-4617 Monday to Friday 9:00am-12:00pm | |
If you have questions about our StrongStart program, please contact
604-713-4445
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