From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 31 of 36
Growing up at a CPE
1997
Since 1997, many Québec children go to a CPE before kindergarten. They play, sing and learn there with early childhood educators while their parents are at work.
Look together
What would you build with these blocks?
An idea to try
Build a small tower together with large blocks. Before starting, decide how to share the pieces and ask for help.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
In January 1997, Québec announced a new family policy that emphasized educational childcare. The reform created the centres de la petite enfance network, building on existing non-profit daycares and home-childcare agencies. Places with a parental contribution of $5 a day were introduced gradually: not every family had access as soon as the policy was announced. The policy aimed to support children’s development, equal opportunities and the balance between family and work responsibilities. That price belongs to the reform’s history; it is not today’s rate.
The scene shows an educator and children around blocks. It opens a conversation about the people who accompany play and group life. Every family’s experience is different: your child may talk about a CPE, another kind of daycare or a moment shared with a relative. The picture shows no particular centre.
Sources and context (4)
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
- Légis Québec - Loi sur les centres de la petite enfance, version historique
- Assemblée nationale - Journal des débats du 8 décembre 2005
- Radio-Canada — Le Québec avant les CPE
- Conseil de la famille et de l’enfance — La politique familiale au Québec : visée, portée, durée et rayonnement
Source review: 2026-09-15. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.