Ontario will invest $20 million in new safety measures for community-based child-care centres as part of a provincial initiative announced Monday, creating a fund named in honour of Liam Riazati, a young child killed in a vehicle collision at a Richmond Hill child-care facility earlier this year.
The Liam Riazati Memorial Fund, unveiled by the Ministry of Education, is designed to help licensed operators install concrete barriers intended to shield children from the risk of vehicular impact. The move follows a September 2025 incident that prompted widespread concern about the safety of child-care locations situated near parking areas or sites exposed to traffic.
“The fatal accident at a child care centre in Richmond Hill was a heartbreaking tragedy for the entire community,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “In Liam’s honour, we are taking steps to support child care operators and families with measures that offer greater peace of mind and added protection for children.”
According to the province, the fund will be targeted specifically at community-based licensed child-care programs, many of which operate outside traditional school facilities. These settings—often located in retail plazas, places of worship, residential buildings and other standalone sites—may lack the structural protections found in purpose-built educational spaces. Installing concrete barriers is expected to add an additional layer of security around entrances, play spaces and other areas where children gather.
The government said the first phase of the funding will roll out in early 2026. Operators will be able to apply through what the ministry describes as a streamlined process, allowing them to arrange delivery and installation of the barriers at no cost. Further application details will be issued to providers in the new year.
While the memorial fund is positioned as an immediate response, the province signalled that broader regulatory changes may follow. Officials plan to consult with child-care operators, sector partners and technical experts on potential updates to design guidelines and licensing regulations. Areas under review include standards for indoor and outdoor play spaces and additional measures that could reduce risks posed by surrounding vehicle traffic.
The announcement builds on temporary steps the province took shortly after the Richmond Hill incident. In the weeks following the collision, Ontario directed all licensed child-care centres to close parking spaces adjacent to child-care areas—except for accessible spots—while longer-term strategies were evaluated. The ministry also asked school boards to assess the safety of their elementary schools, including those with on-site child-care programs, and determine whether further enhancements are needed.
Although safety expectations in schools differ from those in community-based centres, given that school buildings are generally designed with protective features in place, the government says a more comprehensive safety framework for all child-care settings is under consideration.
Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, said the fund represents both a response to community grief and a commitment to preventing future tragedies.
“As a member of the Richmond Hill community, I share the shock and grief that all Ontarians felt on that tragic day in September. Today, we are honouring Liam’s life and memory through measures that enhance the safety of children and staff in their programs across the province. The Liam Riazati Memorial Fund will help protect thousands of children and offer greater peace of mind for their families and caregivers.”
The introduction of the memorial fund marks one of the province’s most substantial safety-focused investments in child-care infrastructure in recent years. As demand for licensed child care grows alongside the expansion of $10-a-day programs, many operators have continued to adapt existing buildings not originally designed for child services—conditions the government says heighten the urgency for targeted safety enhancements.
With applications expected to open in the coming months, operators across Ontario will soon learn how to participate in the program. For families and child-care staff still grappling with the tragedy that prompted this initiative, the province says the fund aims to offer both reassurance and a tangible step toward preventing similar incidents in the future.
