Excerpts 

As the demand for childcare continues to grow, Region of Waterloo staff are recommending a new way to meet that need.

At a Community and Health Services meeting on Tuesday, staff suggested the region purchase a pair of modular childcare centres, because they believe it is the most innovative response to the issue.

Modular childcare centres are similar to a portable. Some are the size of shipping containers, others are larger, but they are made in a factory and can be assembled on-site in a short amount of time. They have access to running water, hydro and washroom facilities.

As childcare operators across the region struggle to find affordable new sites in priority neighbourhoods, a staff report shows over 13,400 children are waiting for licensed child care in the region, 8,700 of which are looking for care immediately.

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For now, all signs point to modular childcare being used as a method to address the child care crisis locally.

The region will look to lease the two units to a not-for-profit operator at a long-term affordable lease rate.

Each site will include utility hook-ups and playground installation.

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