Through an initiative offered by the provincial goverment in the 1970s a group of families put together a proposal for a parent-run group daycare. The proposal was accepted. Boat Daycare opened its doors in spring 1974, and was licensed by the City of Vancouver in 1976.

Because a large number of the families involved in the startup of our daycare were working on and around the docks of Vancouver, and because the first play structure we had was a boat donated to the centre, it became known as Boat Daycare. The boat is long gone, but the promise of a parent-run daycare is still alive and kicking.

The original administration and operation of the daycare was divided between the board, the parents and three full-time staff. As the years passed and family dynamics changed, one part-time shift was expanded into a full-time position. Today, one Senior Supervisor, three full time Early Childhood Educators and the volunteer parent board are responsible for the management and control of the organization and its programs.

Britannia Community Services Centre provides adminstration and management of child care services. The Child Care Manager for Boat Daycare is Leslie Thomas.