StrongStart

StrongStart Early Learning Centres are free drop-in centres for pre-school children age 0 to 5, and for their parents or caregivers. Qualified early childhood educators facilitate learning activities such as story time, music and art – an introduction to learning through play. Through engaging with kids while they participate, parents and caregivers also have an opportunity to bring some of these ideas home with them.

New families who have not yet registered will need to either show up with a filled in form and the appropriate child ID (see below), or forms will be available at each site to complete on your first day.

StrongStart sessions are offered at the below locations

Connaught Heights Elementary School
Monday to Friday … 9:00 – 11:30

Skwo:wech Elementary School
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at Skwo:wech … 9:15 – 11:45

Thursdays: Explore Outdoors is back!
Every Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 am, join our Skwo:wech StrongStart educator at Queens Park for a special outdoor version of learning through play! Enter the park near 1st Street and 5th Ave, to join us at the learning circle. 

Queensborough Middle School
Monday to Friday … 8:45 – 11:15

Here are important things to know about this program

  • Programs are free, drop-in, and on first-come-first-served basis.
  • StrongStart is open Monday to Friday and families may attend any session at our three locations.
  • Each session can accommodate a maximum of 20 children plus one (1) caregiver.

2023 – 2024 StrongStart Calendar


How to register

If it’s your first time taking part in StrongStart, you will need to register your child. If you are unable to register online, you may do so in person on your child’s first day of StrongStart.

Please bring one (1) piece of ID (e.g. birth certificate or passport) for your child on their first day.

If you have any questions, please email StrongStart@sd40.bc.ca.

Finding that a StrongStart program is full? Need other options to take your kids to?

We’ve been working hard to support as many families as we can. But we know spaces can fill up and you may be looking for other options when we’re full. So, we wanted to also provide some connection to other great local offerings you may want to consider.

Check out this great calendar showing a variety of community events and activities available to support young families in New Westminster, with free options of things to do, most days of the week: http://kidsnewwest.ca/

Or see what New West Family Place has going on at the many locations they work across: https://www.newwestfamilies.ca/