Daycare in a Box

  • 22 daycares completed
  • 1718 critically needed daycare spots opened in Manitoba communities
  • Under 2 years from award to build
  • All fees reinvested into future infrastructure projects that drive economic growth in communities
  • Award winning – In April 2024, in Partnership with the Province of Manitoba (ELCC), We Won the “Project of the Year” Award from PMI Manitoba.

“One of the standout aspects of this project was how efficiently it progressed. With an experienced team in place, the biggest challenge was simply finding the right parcel of land and bringing together the city and the operator. The initial steps—coordinating with the city, selecting the operator, and securing the land—took the most time. After that, everything fell into place effortlessly, and the rest of the process was remarkably smooth.”

Nancy, Morden Operator

“Saying this daycare project blew the other options out of the water would be an understatement—it blew them out of the universe. John Q delivered an all-in-one solution that not only ensured a timely build, but also provided a safe, well-constructed facility designed to serve the community for years to come. It gave families access to high-quality child care much sooner—and far more affordably—than any other option on the table.”

Chris Ewan, Mayor, St. Adolphe

“The Town of Morris was facing a significant shortage of child care spaces. Many families were forced to travel long distances just to access care. With the addition of a new 104-space facility—an increase of 46 spaces—we were finally able to meet some of that critical demand. For local families, this has been a game changer. Dual-income parents who were previously commuting outside the community for daycare now have secured spots right here in Morris. It’s made day-to-day life far more manageable—reducing travel time, easing the stress of daily routines, and allowing parents to stay closer to home and work. Having child care available within the community has made a real, tangible difference for our residents.”

Bridgette, CAO, Town of Morris

Daycare in a Box Pilot Project

In 2021, a $1.2 billion federal funding program for critically needed daycare spots in Canada was announced. The Governments of Canada and Manitoba signed a new Canada-Manitoba, Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to create additional spaces through the Early Learning and Child Care Department.

The catch? The money needs to be spent by 2026. While that may seem an easy feat, for many municipalities and First Nations communities operating on their own, it just isn’t.

The Board of JohnQ saw this as a perfect pilot project for their scalable solutions to complex infrastructure problems. JohnQ, with no financial compensation from any source, went to work with their experts to create a first of its kind, scalable modular daycare build that communities could see completed in under two years. They worked closely with the Province of Manitoba to ensure the builds would meet, and exceed, all regulatory needs.

The daycare in a box pilot project was born.  

Then JohnQ got to work.

JohnQ’s team of experts oversaw the entire build, from start to handing over the keys to operators. The JohnQ model harnesses the power of group purchasing, rigorous oversight and reporting, and comes with a solid team of experts who then work directly with each community. All funding is held within each community or First Nation.

Throughout the pilot project, John Q provided extensive monthly reporting and sought formal feedback on their processes.  

The project was a success. Within 24 months, 22 child care centers were developed, and 1718 children have a safe, accessible place in their community to go. That’s great for communities on another level too, as an economic driver. Communities with daycares are more attractive to families looking to move there.  

For its work, JohnQ collected a customary fee for service from each project. All those funds are being reinvested into future work that will benefit all communities in Manitoba.

Today, JohnQ is ready to begin another phase of the daycare in a box project and to serve more communities across Manitoba by creating more critically needed spaces before the Federal Governments deadline in 2026.