Our Team | Welcome

A Little Bit About Us

When we began we asked ourselves 'What would it look like if we provided brave spaces for children's deepest desires to play, explore and be challenged?' Being a Reggio Emilia inspired, nature-based centre was a great place to start. Our space is so much more than a daycare. It is a place for everyone; children, parents, and educators to see children and hear their voices. To honour their ideas, hopes, dreams and contributions and empower them to become confident and capable citizens.

A Little Bit About Us

When we began we asked ourselves 'What would it look like if we provided brave spaces for children's deepest desires to play, explore and be challenged'? Being a Reggio Emilia inspired, nature-based centre was a great place to start. Our space is so much more than a daycare. It is a place for everyone; children, parents, and educators to see children and hear their voices. To honour their ideas, hopes, dreams and contributions and empower them to become confident and capable citizens.

Kathleen McMillan

ECE, BA, Director

After 30 years teaching early childhood education I yearned to create braver spaces for children and teachers. I longed to explore an image of equitable citizenship in my work with children.

I sensed a desire in children to saturate themselves in play and to create meaning through their own experiences.

I recognized a desire in my team to marvel and wonder at the research of children.

As we began exploring what Brave Spaces might become we discovered that learning emerges out of relationship to self, others and the environment. Our team learned to say Yes! to the ideas of the children and to join them on a journey of discovery.

Kathleen McMillan

ECE, BA, Director

After 30 years teaching early childhood education I yearned to create braver spaces for children and teachers. I longed to explore an image of equitable citizenship in my work with children.

I sensed a desire in children to saturate themselves in play and to create meaning through their own experiences.

I recognized a desire in my team to marvel and wonder at the research of children.

Join Our Team

HUMBLE

We value people who recognize what they have to contribute, entering the learning enviroment willing to both teach and learn from others.

HUNGRY

We challenge people to be brave and we encourage people to try new things and to have challenging conversations.

SMART

We are people who strive towards personal awareness and recognize how we affect the environment and others.

APPLY NOW

Infant Toddler Program

Erin Vese

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

“Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is known, or should we try to develop creative and innovative minds?”

~ Jean Piaget

Christine Oglow

Teacher-Researcher: Infant Toddler Educator

“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”

~ Rita Pierson

Anna Frohlich

Teacher-Researcher: Infant Toddler Educator

"The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences."

~ Loris Malaguzzi

Jennifer Gollub

Teacher-Researcher: Infant Toddler Educator

"Observe and listen to children because when they ask 'why?' they are not simply asking for the answer from you. They are requesting the courage to find a collection of possible answers."

~ Loris Malaguzzi

Tina Watson

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

"...children are original blessings, here to learn their own song. Every girl and boy is entitled to love, to dream and belong to a loving 'village'. And to pursue a life of purpose."

~ Raffi

Robyn Garland

Teacher-Researcher: Infant Toddler Educator

"By giving freedom to children, they unfold creativity, learn through play, and discover the world anew."

~ Yoon Dong-joo

3-5's Program

Kathleen McMillan

Early Childhood Educator, BA, Director

“Stand aside for a while and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before.”

~ Loris Malaguzzi

Alicine Grochowski

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

"[It is a] child’s right to be respected as a citizen who has a voice and desires to be part of the solution on issues that impact his or her life”

~ Glynne Mackey

Kandiss DeVries

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

"If we want children to move mountains, we first need to let them get out of their chairs"

~ Nicolette Sowder

Hayley Jackson

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. “

~ Fred Rogers

Hailey Stanley

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

"Our task is to help children communicate with the world using all their potential, strengths and languages, and to overcome any obstacle presented by our culture."

~ Loris Malaguzzi

Sylvia Theilade

Teacher-Researcher: Early Childhood Educator

“Every child is a genius at something. Our job is to find it. And then encourage it.”

~ Robin Sharma

Ellie Bayat

Early Childhood Educator

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

~ Christopher Reeve

Toni Birtles

Early Childhood Educator

"Our task...is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more"

~ Loris Malaguzzi

Aidyn Runte

Early Childhood Educator Assistant

"Free play is a childhood space that should be held sacred. They will never pretend with such abandon again. And it will never be so important a learning tool"

~ Dr. Erin Clabough