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(Image Credit: Dreamstime)
By Dave Lueneberg
To take effect Monday, June 1

Alberta goverment introduces new incident reporting rules at childcare facilities

May 29, 2026 | 4:45 PM

Beginning Monday, June 1, childcare facilities across Alberta will be required to post on-site notices of high-risk, potentially criminal incidents reported through their programs.

Under the new rules, the notices will need to go up within one business day after incidents are reported and in an area which parents have access to and can see the details.

“The vast majority of Alberta’s child-care providers are dedicated to children’s health, safety and well-being, but when serious incidents do happen, parents have been clear they need more information sooner,” a government statement outlined Friday.

“In response to these concerns, Alberta’s government is making improvements to parental and public notifications to keep families informed about serious incidents at childcare facilities.”

Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides, added that the safety and well-being of children is his government’s highest priority.

“We’ve heard from parents that they want clearer, more timely information about serious incidents, and this change is an important first step. While these incidents are rare, we will continue strengthening how we keep parents informed and support safe, high-quality care.”

Right now, providers only need to inform a family if their child is directly impacted by the incident in question.

The new requirements broaden the scope to include all parents and/or guardians, whose child is at the facility.

“We are very pleased to see these practices being rolled out across the province because the safety, well-being and trust of children and families must always come first,” said Katherine O’Neill with the YMCA of Northern Alberta, whose organization has had a similar policy in place for a number of years.

The posting of on-site and public notices will apply to licensed, facility-based childcare providers, such as daycare, preschool and out-of-school care operations.

by Dave Lueneberg