This document presents a general overview of day care services in Canada. This study is part of a continuing process by the National Day Care Information Centre to obtain information concerning day care services and degree of unmet need, and to provide a basis for evaluating the impact of federal policies in the day care field. The National Day Care Information Centre gathered data as of March 31, 1976 regarding the growth experienced in day care centres offering full day care and those offering lunch and after school programs. The number of day care spaces increased from 69,952 in 1975 to 83,520 in 1976--a gain of 19.40%. This is substantially lower than the rate of increase in 1974 and somewhat lower than the rate of increase in 1975. These percentages remained relatively unchanged from 1975: 18.38% of children aged 3-5, 4.30% of children under age 3, and .4% of children aged 6 to 15, all of working mothers, are enrolled in day care. The number of day care spaces under the auspices of parent cooperatives experienced a further decrease: from 1974 to 1975 by 12.78% and in 1976 by 41.99%. Centres under public, community, and commercial auspices experienced a modest increase. Observations suggest that the rate of growth in day care in 1977 will be significantly lower than in 1976. (Author/MS)