The two-and-a-half-storey red brick home at 17 Chapel St. in Brampton was built around 1890 is known as the Armstrong House. (Photo: City of Brampton report)
Residents shouted “shame” and “blood on your hands” at members of a local committee after approving changes that will bring two new daycares to downtown Brampton despite concerns from locals.
But the city and Peel Region say more daycares downtown are sorely needed, and scrapping one of the projects would mean losing out on some $700,000 in provincial funding.
One of the projects is a proposed daycare that will be an addition to a historic building on Chapel Street, while the other would be a day nursery on Mill Street run by the Bramalea Islamic Culture Centre.
At the Chapel Street development, childcare provider the Canadian Mothercraft Society wants to tear down an existing garage that’s been added onto the home and replace it with a new daycare facility, which would be an addition to the existing heritage home.
The facility would have capacity for around 60 children, and the region says downtown Brampton is one of seven areas identified “as a priority” for additional childcare options.
The region has secured just under $700,000 in funds for the project through the province’s Early Learning and Childcare Program – funds that would be returned to the province if the project isn’t built.
And even though local residents said they’re not opposed to daycare opening downtown, they don’t think Chapel Street property isn’t the place to open one.
One resident who lives adjacent to the property said the addition and 1.5-metre setback would obstruct his view, while others said the neighbourhood can’t support the pick-up and drop-off of children.
A city report found there was “ample” parking to support the daycare in the John Street parking garage, and said the area has a “consistently low complaint volume” for parking issues.
Data collected by the city showed there were 35 complaints between December and January from 2020 to 2026.
The area isn’t zoned for daycares, but developers asked the city for a minor variance adjustment to allow for a childcare centre and a rear yard setback of 1.5 metres for the proposed addition, rather than the usual 6-metre setback.
Brampton’s Committee of Adjustment approved the application on Tuesday, despite feedback from locals concerned about traffic impacts, parking, and child safety.
Developers will also have to work with the owners of other nearby heritage buildings, including the Brampton Armory and the old Bell Telephone Exchange building. The heritage property most recently housed a beauty salon.
The second daycare proposal approved on Tuesday also drew criticism from locals, with some shouting down the decision and forcing the committee to go into recess.
Located on Mill Street, the Bramalea Islamic Culture Centre also asked the city to allow for a day nursery with an outdoor play area at its facility even though it’s not zoned for that use. The centre also plans to build a porch landing that required a minor variance adjustment allowing for a setback of 1.92 metres in the front yard down from 4.2 metres.
Residents who spoke at the meeting were also concerned about parking, traffic impacts and the safety of children, among other issues. Those residents opposed to the project weren’t shy about their disappointment of the approval, breaking Council Chambers rules to yell at the committee following the decision.
Child-care wait lists have ballooned across Ontario since the province signed on to the national $10-a-day program, as demand due to the lower fees appears to be far outpacing the creation of new spaces in many regions.
The region says there are around 2,000 childcare spaces in Brampton, with plans to add another 1,200 by the end of the year.
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