A BIT ABOUT US AND OUR HISTORY

Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care Centre opened on October 9, 1986. Originally the centre operated in the former St. Agnes school, which is a few blocks away. In 2000, the day care centre moved to St. Anthony school. Many of our children go on to attend St. Anthony school when they graduate from our daycare.

On our 30th anniversary, we celebrated by inviting our former families and staff to a big party. It was gratifying to see “our” children all grown up, attending school, and working in interesting careers. Some are now parents themselves! We have had the pleasure of enrolling a child of one of our graduates. We are sure that there will be more children of our graduates enrolled in the future!

We are a neighbourhood childcare centre that reflects our multicultural neighbourhood. As you enter our daycare, you can see a map showing the countries around the world where our children and their families come from. Our centre promotes awareness, respect, and appreciation for diversity. Our staff members are fully qualified, well trained, and are focused on providing quality child care regardless of culture, gender, and ability.

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MISSION STATEMENT:

Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care Centre is a community-based, non-profit child care centre whose mission is to provide high quality child care that recognizes play to be one of most important vehicles of learning for young children.

​Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care Centre is a community-based, non-profit child care centre whose mission is to provide high quality child care that recognizes play to be one of most important vehicles of learning for young children.

Knowledgeable, trained educators provide an environment that helps to meet the developmental needs of each child.
 
We Value:
 A co-operative structure, recognizing that the provision of child care is a shared responsibility and requires effort from all staff members and parents and where consensus is a model for decision-making;

Respect for the diverse nature of our community, staff and families without discrimination with respect to Aboriginal, racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds, age, gender, sexual orientation, levels of income and ability;

Working in partnership with families, community partners and the various levels of government in ways that are responsible and supportive to ensure accessible, affordable, high quality child care;Being flexible, creative and accountable in how we do our work;


 

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WHO WE ARE:

Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care is a licensed, non-profit, unionized, parent/staff co-operative centre.
We are licensed for 72 children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. There are five programs:   
The staff are trained and have a Diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent.  Staff who hold an E.C.E. must also be a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators.

We also have on staff: a program coordinator, an administrative coordinator, a cook, a housekeeper and assistant housekeeper.

Infant Program: The infant program has 10 children from 6 months to 18 months of age and four educators.

Toddler Programs (18 months - 2.5 years):  There is a  junior and a senior toddler program.  Each has 15 children from 18 months to 2 ½ years of age with three  educators.

Preschool Programs (2.5 -5 years): 
​There is a junior and a senior preschool program.  Each has 16 children  with  two educators.

Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care Centre is a community-based, non-profit childcare centre whose mission is to  provide high quality child care that recognizes play to be one of most important vehicles of learning for young children.

Knowledgeable, trained teachers provide an environment that helps to meet the developmental needs of each child.

The staff at Dalhousie Parents’ Day Care are committed to providing high quality, culturally sensitive and an anti bias program for young children.  The educators practice reflective teaching as they implement an emergent child-directed curriculum.  Early Leaning for Every Child Today (ELECT) is the framework that guides and supports the educators in designing their programs.  

Our staff, recognizing that a positive child-caregiver interaction is dependent on training and good working conditions to ensure the continuity, consistency and stability that is key to quality child care.

CO-OPERATIVE PHILOSOPHY:

Both parents and staff are involved in the daily operation and activities of the centre. All decisions regarding the operation, activities, philosophies, policies etc. of the centre are reached by consensus.

The centre is overseen by a Board of Directors. Staff and parents are elected at the Annual General Meeting to sit as representatives on the Board. The Board meets monthly (with the exception of July and August).

There are several committees or working groups of the Board that meet regularly and consult on various aspects of the centre i.e. Personnel, Policy, fundraising, etc. All parents and staff are welcome and encouraged to participate on these committees.

Parent involvement is encouraged in several ways:

a) Parents can volunteer to sit on the Board of Directors or a committee.

b) Parents can volunteer to assist on field trips, participate in program activities, repair toys, etc.

We understand families have busy schedules and we appreciate any help or contributions that parents can make towards providing quality care for their children.

The centre also operates with an alternative staff structure. There is no hierarchy at Dalhousie, all staff have equal responsibilities and importance and are therefore expected to participate fully in the activities of the centre. The program and administrative coordinators act in a supportive role rather than an authoritative one. We use a team approach and reach decisions on the operations and activities of the centre by consensus. All staff receive the same salary regardless of their position in the centre.

Union:  The staff belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2204. The union has been instrumental in improving salaries, benefits and working conditions for staff. The union also provides a mechanism and resources to lobby governments for affordable, accessible, universal child care.

We want to hear about your experiences with child care options in Ontario.
Get involved. Take the survey online. Click here.

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