Our History
Our Beginning
Our founders, Sheila and Brian Keogh, opened Humber Bay Child Care Centre in 1977. The Keogh’s passion for serving the community led the way to opening three child care centres in the Humber Bay and Sunnylea communities.
The First Location
The first to open, on October 1, 1977, was Humber Bay Child Care Centre based in Humber Bay Baptist Church on Aldgate Ave. A private, for-profit centre, it began with five children, two staff members and a cook. In 1978 Humber Bay Child Care Centre obtained a Purchase of Service Agreement with Etobicoke Children’s Services for a total operating capacity of 34 children from ages 2 to 6 years.
Humber Bay Child Care forged a strong and positive reputation in the community, leading to a demand to open a second centre in Park Lawn Junior Middle School in 1984. Parklawn Preschool was operated as a half-day nursery school program for the first year.
In order to lease space in a public school, operators were required to be non-profit. So in 1984, Park Lawn Preschool Inc. was incorporated to operate a “non-profit, integrated nursery school program, an after-school program and such other related programs as may be needed to serve the community.” (Letters Patent, 1984) Humber Bay Child Care Centre continued to be licensed separately at the Aldgate location.
Our Expansion
In September 1985, Parklawn Preschool expanded to a full day program for 15 toddlers, 24 preschoolers and 8 school-aged after-school children. Today it is licensed for 70 Preschool and school-aged children and its programs continue to be in high demand in the community.
In 1986, Humber Bay Child Care Centre was sold to Park Lawn Preschool Inc. so that in July 1987, Humber Bay Child Care Centre, operating as a branch of Park Lawn Preschool Inc., could move from Humber Bay Baptist Church to Etienne Brule Junior School. The licensed capacity expanded to 16 preschool, 24 kindergarten and 30 in school aged before, lunch and after school programs.
In 1988, Park Lawn Preschool Inc. purchased The Children’s House Daycare and Nursery School in Stouffville, Ontario with a licensed capacity of 5. It was sold in 1999 to Upper Canada Child Care Centres Inc.
In September 2002, Humber Bay opened a Kids’ Club for school-aged children aged 7 to 12 years for after-school care only. This increased the licensed capacity to 85.
In 2006, Park Lawn Preschool was approached by the Best Start program to open a third centre in St. Mark Catholic School. Park Lawn Preschool Early Learning Centre at St. Mark now supports families with Toddler, Preschool and full day Kindergarten before and after school programs. The centre is currently licensed for 94 children.
In 2012, Bylaw #2 was enacted, extending membership in Park Lawn Preschool Inc. to Family and Community members.