Providing Early Learning in Red Deer with Passion and Experience
The origin story of Red Deer Child Care is a tale of forging success by overcoming adversity. Our society has stood the test of time through patience, tenacity, and a passion for providing accessible care to families in the community.
Foundation of Family
In 1970, the Red Deer Day Care Centre and Family Day Home program was founded by a group of dedicated parents, offering services out of a local church. Business continued for a decade before moving to a wing of the Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in 1980, changes began to take effect and the Day Care Management Board of the City of Red Deer took over operations. Over the next several years, numerous affiliate programs opened, including the first on site School Age Program at Piper Creek School, Normandeau Day Care, The Infant Care Program for Unwed Mothers, and Family Day Home accommodations for children with special needs.
Progress in Strides
The Red Deer Day Care centre relocated in 1986 to modular developments behind Lindsay Thurber; and, in no small feat, the Red Deer Child Care Society was established as an independent non-profit in 1990. The society continued to advance by adding programs and services. In 1995 the company purchased a downtown building and relocated the administrative offices thereto.
Strength through Adversity
The society’s governing board initiated a staff restructuring in 1996, one year after the move. In the ensuing years many programs opened and the society expanded. Challenges led to the closure of the Red Deer Daycare; after which, in an effort to learn and grow, the society decided to restructure. This resulted in the 2003 rebranding as Red Deer Child Care – a name still worn proudly to this day.
Achieving Success
During the restructuring process some programs were closed; however, in the long run, more were opened due to the 2009 partnership formed with the Red Deer Catholic School District, which allowed two additional programs to begin. In conjunction with the Making Spaces Initiative, this collaboration afforded us the opportunity to use space at Maryview and St. Martin Elementary. Ten additional programs opened in the community, one of which was our Johnstone Day Care.
Our 50th Anniversary was in July of 2020, however, due to restrictions with the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unable to hold celebratory events.
Developing School Age Programs
Strengthening our organization further, Red Deer Child Care began to steadily develop school age programs throughout the community, with the 2014 opening of the Barrie Wilson, & Father Voisin programs. Over the next several years Gateway, Camille J Lerouge, Don Campbell, & Vista Grande programs were added, as well as our fourth daycare Park Plaza Child Care (formerly, the Pines elementary school). In the fall of 2019, a program at St. Elizabeth Seton opened.
Where We Are Today
The tenacity which maintained our society through the ages endures to this day as we continue to add achievements, making child care in the Red Deer community more accessible than ever before. Our program continues to grow, and we look forward to your children growing with us – find out more about the programs offered.
