The centre offers child-inspired and culturally-diverse learning opportunities in a nurturing space with plenty of laughter and comfort for children while their parents study or work at the university.

Having access to high-quality and convenient care allows both parents and their children to achieve their fullest potential. This is especially important for UM students who are parents, juggling multiple responsibilities from studying and working to raising their families. Fifty percent of the children at the centre have parents who are UM students.

Children have an indoor gym, a sensory room and fresh homemade snacks daily.

Located at the corner of Dysart Road and University Cres., the centre has space for 138 children in eight rooms. With demand for childcare space at a premium in Winnipeg, this centre, like many others, has a 2-year long waiting list (currently with 1,000 names). Over the next few years, the facility will be expanding to accommodate up to 76 additional children. The centre also recently announced that they will be opening a satellite site at the Bannatyne Campus, tentatively opening in 2026.

Executive director, Dawn Montebruno is looking forward to having room for more children in the independent not-for-profit centre, overseen by a parent-run board of directors. She is committed to working hard in the planning process to ensure that the expansion is tailored to the needs of the children and 38 caring centre staff.

“The staff at Campus Children’s Centre take their roles and responsibilities as Early Childhood Educators very seriously. We are committed to creating a positive environment where the children will develop to their fullest potential,” says Montebruno.

UM student Razia and her daughter Sara

Razia Bakhtiary has been a UM student since 2019 and is working toward her degree in nursing. Her four-year old daughter, Sara, started at the UM Children’s Centre in 2021. As a single mother, with no family to help her in Canada, Razia says the centre has been essential for her and allows her to find the time she needs to succeed and focus on school.

“I love the staff,” shares Bakhtiary. “They are amazing people and it is a safe and trusted place I can leave my child.”

The Campus Children’s Centre is celebrating 50 years on campus in 2024. Staff are looking forward to welcoming the UM community, parents and centre alumni to a celebration in September.

For more information about childcare centres and waitlists in Manitoba, visit the Manitoba online childcare registry. More about the Campus Children’s Centre can be found on their website. In November, UM announced a new babysitting directory to help match parents with UM students for casual childcare.