The little idea that could is celebrating a major milestone this weekend. It’s been 40 years since the St. Albert Day Care Society first established itself as a landmark organization to help working families find reasonable and reliable care for their children. Over that time, it has grown from helping out a few to being a major influence in the lives of 400 families each year, and it’s still growing.
It hasn’t been an easy road but that never stopped those who knew that it was quickly becoming a necessary fixture in the community of about 12,000.
According to its website at www.sadcs.com, Joan Beniot, the first volunteer president of the society, stated, “Many who opposed our efforts said that we would not find any space in St. Albert that could be used for a daycare.”
With dogged determination, founders did find that first space (in a church basement). Enrolment was already strong at the end of the first year and its place in the community was firmly established.
In 1976, the non-profit organization moved to set up shop at its home base on Cunningham Road between Paul Kane High School and Fountain Park Recreation Centre. That might be its primary fixture (that includes three pre-school programs, independent kindergarten and an after-school care program) but the name carries throughout the city and surrounding area with its six other after school care locations.
Current executive director Brandy Currie is thrilled at the success and staying power of one of the city’s major child-care institutions.
“It feels great – 40 years is a long time,” she said.
While she hasn’t been on the receiving end of any of the organization’s programs or services, she said that its reputation even in Edmonton helped draw her in as its chief administrator.
The non-profit organization has lots of growth opportunities as St. Albert has a high need for child-care centres and more child-care spaces.
“The wait list here is long,” Currie said.
It’s been four years since the society introduced its latest program called Ready Set Grow Preschool but there are always new ideas and programs being developed. A new after school care program is in the works, Currie said. She’s also looking at opening up infant spaces because the centre currently only accepts children at 19 months.
“That’s a niche where parents’ needs are there but we can’t meet them because we’re not licensed for that yet,” she said.
She said that she looks forward to continued growth and success in the future thanks to the dedication of her competent staff and the supportive parents who make up her client base.
