Inner Smile Montessori

About the program

Inner Smile Montessori is program for children ages 2-6. We have 2 locations, one in Courtenay just off Fitzgerald on 16th Street, and one on Comox Road. The Courtenay location offers full-day care from 8-5 M-F, 12 months/year. The Comox location offers school-hours care from 9-3:30, 12 months/year.

At Inner Smile we focus on healthy lifestyles (good food and outdoor play everyday), social-emotional learning (sharing, turn-taking and helping others), and learning through Montessori materials and free play.


We are a low-sugar preschool and special diets are welcome. We get lots and lots of fresh air and we learn yoga at circle time. We spend at least 2 hours each day outdoors playing and exploring in the large yard and garden. We take walking field trips in the neighborhood and learn a lot of natural sciences and biology in a informal way (ie. plant ID on our walks, observing our animal neighbors, learning about edible and poisonous plants).

Montessori philosophy recognizes children to be innately wise, curious and engaged people. Basic life skills are a major component of the program. Activities like sweeping, pouring, tidying the table, transferring objects with spoons and tongs, cleaning up after oneself and assisting others are part of our daily routines and expectations. There are many other Montessori materials for children who are interested, the primary areas of learning being math, language, sensory development and practical life.

The Director is Seva Ganga, he is experienced as a preschool, Montessori, yoga and music teacher. He is one of very few male ECE's in the Valley and brings a nurturing and creative energy to the center 2 or 3 days a week. Natasha and Tonja are our other wonderful ECE’s,

"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
Maria Montessori