Octopus Academy — Daycare & Preschool in Richmond, British Columbia

What parents say

• SHUYING HUANG

  Wonderful Daycare! We love Octopus Academy!The teachers are kind and caring. They make sure every child feels safe and happy. My daughter enjoys going every day and always comes home with a big smile. She has learned so much, from new words to fun activities. The daycare is clean and well-organized. The staff keeps us updated, which gives us peace of mind. We are very happy with Octopus Academy and highly recommend it to other parents!

• Ka Yuzuki

  This place was great but really went downhill after new management took over. There’s been a high staff turnover rate, and hygiene is bad. The carpets in the classrooms are pretty dirty, and kids seem to get sick constantly, including yearly outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease. One time, I even saw a rat near the main entrance during pickup, which was honestly shocking. Also noticed kids being served cold leftovers, even though the daycare is supposed to provide hot lunches every day. Not sure why that’s happening, but it doesn’t seem right. Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending a child here.

• Pari Mistry

  Our daughter has been attending Octopus Academy (Richmond) for the past 4 years, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. The staff and teachers are caring, supportive, and made her feel at home from the very first day. The Academy offers such a wide variety of engaging activities — from ballet, yoga, and taekwondo to science and more — giving kids so many opportunities to explore and grow. Over the years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in our daughter, and we know her time at Octopus Academy has played a big part in that. A special thank you to the amazing teachers of Rooms D, H, F & A — we truly appreciate all that you do!

• Daffy Chu

  2025-3-18

  Both our kids graduated from Octopus Academy over a span of 6 years. The teachers are all very kind and caring, Mr Eduardo, Ms Lucy, Ms Mary, Ms Zoey, Ms Cecilia, Ms Amy, Ms Fion, Ms Shima, Ms Zarah, and many of them have been working there for a long time, which really helps alleviate concerns about staff turnover and your child needing to readjust to a new teacher. Michelle at the front desk is also amazing, you can communicate to them with your concerns, emails, messages, and phone calls are always promptly returned. Lunch and two snacks are provided which is super convenient for parents. Even during covid Octopus stayed open and their drop off and pick up hours, pro D/school closure days are very considerate of parents. Octopus is not the most fancy or newest daycare (no cameras and not that many daily photos) but it’s truly a daycare with a heart. Even without photos my children can describe the fun they had that day and it puts me at ease. Every time we drive by Octopus my kids ask if they can go say hi to their old teachers. Thank you again for the wonderful memories for our kids. 😍

• Wendy Chan

  The team at Octopus is amazing! They are kind, caring, and many have been there for years, which creates such a warm and consistent environment for the kids. My daughter looks forward to going every day, and I always feel at ease knowing she’s in good hands. They share updates with photos, support big milestones like class transitions and potty training, and the convenient hours and parking make drop-offs/ pick up stress-free. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a nurturing, engaging place for their child to learn and grow!