Footsteps Family Centre

Faces of Footsteps: Meet Monica!

This week, we’re getting to know Monica, one of the familiar faces you’ll find in our Sunflowers room! 🌻

Let’s get to know a little more about her!

What’s your name?

Monica!

🌻 What room do you work in?

Currently, you’ll find me in our Sunflowers (Preschool) room!

🗓️ How long have you worked at Footsteps?

I’ve been at Footsteps since September 2014! I first came to Footsteps as a high school co-op student during my “victory” lap. At the time, I was stuck on what I wanted to do after high school, so I decided to give childcare a try.

I quickly realized it was where I wanted to be! I was hired as supply staff the following summer in July 2015 and became a permanent staff member in 2017 after receiving my RECE diploma. So, I’ve now been part of Footsteps for just about 12 years! 😄

❤️ What do you love most about working with children?

What is not to love?! I love watching these tiny humans discover all that they can do through their curiosity and interests. Children are incredibly capable and competent, and I feel so lucky to work alongside them on their journey, helping foster and expand their learning day in and day out.

I think what I truly love most is watching them grow and blossom into their own little people—not just babies, but intelligent, loving humans. Some days may be tough, but they are worth it. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of watching so many children grow from infancy all the way into their teenage years, and that is pretty special. 🤍

🏡 What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me with my family and friends! I’m definitely a social butterfly, and my daughter, fiancé and I love creating new memories with the people we hold so dearly to our hearts. But as much as I love being social, there’s nothing better than kicking it outside at my country home. 🤍

📚 What is your favourite children’s story?

Reading is one of my favourite things to do—especially with the children—so choosing just one is hard!

A few of my favourites are We Share Everything! by Robert Munsch, The Mitten by Jan Brett, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, and Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle.

But my all-time favourite, ever since I was a little girl, is Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman. 🤍

💬 What’s one thing you’d like our families to know about you?

Being a momma is my greatest gift in the world. I have always had a passion for working alongside children, but becoming a mother opened my eyes in a whole new way. I now truly understand what it feels like as a parent to leave the person you cherish most with, at the time, complete strangers and trust that everything will be okay.

I truly hope every parent who comes through the doors at Footsteps is able to find that trust in us. Thank you for putting your trust in me to care for your children day in and day out. It really is a blessing!

And our family is growing! We’ll be welcoming our newest addition in February 2027, so I’ll be heading off on maternity leave in the new year. 🤍

Thanks for getting to know Monica a little better!
Stay tuned for another familiar face in our next Faces of Footsteps spotlight!

Upcoming Closure Dates!

Footsteps Family Centre will be closed from Monday, August 24 to Friday, August 28, 2026, for our annual deep cleaning and floor waxing.

We will also be closed on Monday, August 31, 2026, for our educator setup day. Our educators will use this time to put their classrooms back together, refresh their learning environments, and prepare to welcome new children into their programs!

We will reopen on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure our centre is clean, refreshed, and ready for another wonderful year!

Faces of Footsteps: Meet Rosie!

You may recognize this familiar face from all around Footsteps!

What’s your name?

Rosie!

🏫 What room do you work in?

I’m a floater, so you can find me in any of our rooms! I help cover and support our educators wherever I’m needed.

🗓️ How long have you worked at Footsteps?

I’ve been part of the Footsteps team for over a year now!

What do you love most about working with children?

Their endless curiosity and pure joy! Children see magic in the simplest things, which means no two days are ever alike. Whether we’re diving into a pretend-play world, singing songs together, or getting excited over bugs on the playground, their energy is totally contagious. They make every day an adventure!

🎨 What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love relaxing with a movie, drawing, catching up with friends, and my absolute favourite—building LEGO sets!

💬 What’s one thing you’d like our families to know about you?

Being an educator has truly been my dream job, and I feel so lucky to do what I love every day. For me, working with children isn’t just a job—it’s a continuous journey of learning. They teach me something new about patience, curiosity, and joy with every interaction, and I cherish getting to grow alongside them.

💚 Thanks for getting to know Rosie a little better!

Keep an eye out for another familiar face in our next Faces of Footsteps spotlight!

Faces of Footsteps: Meet Taylor!

My name is Taylor, and I thought I’d be the first to kick off our new Faces of Footsteps series!

Along with being an educator in our Junior Preschool room, I am also managing our page. One thing we hear from families all the time is how much they appreciate the relationships they build with our educators. With lots of new families joining us over the next little while, I thought it would be fun to introduce everyone on our team and share a little bit about who we are.

My hope is that this page becomes more than just a place for reminders and announcements. I’d love to share what we’re learning, celebrate special moments, and help families get to know the people who spend their days with your children.

So.. here’s a little bit about me!

👋 Whats your name?

Taylor

🏡 What room do you work in?

Junior Preschool (toddler #2)

🗓️ How long have you worked at Footsteps?

I’ve been at Footsteps since February 2023! I actually started here as an Early Childhood Education student during my college placements and was lucky enough to be hired during that time.

❤️ What do you love most about working with children?

For me, it’s all about the relationships. I love getting to know each child, watching their personalities shine, and celebrating all of the little moments that make such a big difference. Seeing children grow in confidence over time and being someone they trust is one of the best parts of my job.

🏕️ What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me at camp, out paddle boarding, curled up with a good book, or spending time with the people I love. And, of course, my puppy named Otis! 🐾

📚 What is your favourite children’s story?

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel. It’s always been one of my favourites because of the sweet stories about friendship, kindness, and caring for one another.

💬 What’s one thing you’d like our families to know about you?

I became an educator because I know firsthand how much a caring adult can shape a child’s life. Some of my own educators had such a positive impact on me growing up, and I hope I can be that person for the children and families I work with. I want every child to feel safe, valued, and excited to come to daycare each day. Building strong relationships with families means a lot to me, and I believe every child deserves someone who will advocate for them and help them succeed. Watching children grow over the years is one of the most rewarding parts of this job… even though saying goodbye when they head off to school never gets any easier 🥲

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me! I’m excited to introduce the rest of our amazing team over the coming weeks.

At Footsteps we believe some of the most meaningful moments happen when our children, families, and educators come together as one community.

Earlier this month, we gathered for our annual Family Picnic and Preschool Graduation! It was an evening filled with connection, laughter, music, good food, and wonderful memories.

To our graduates, it has been an honour to be part of your learning journey. We have watched you grow with confidence, curiosity, kindness, and resilience, and we couldn’t be prouder of all you’ve accomplished. As you take your next steps, know that you will always have a place in the Footsteps family.

Thank you to our wonderful families for celebrating with us and for allowing us to be part of your children’s stories 🎓💙

Celebrating the Special People in Our Children’s Lives

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming families to join us for a special Father’s Day celebration. The children were excited to share a small snack, refreshment, and special gifts they had worked hard to prepare.

At Footsteps Family Centre, we recognize that every family is unique. Father’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate all of the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, caregivers, and special people who provide love, guidance, and support to the children in our lives.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to all of the incredible family members who help our children learn, grow, and thrive each day. We are grateful to be part of such a caring and supportive community.

Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Footsteps Family Centre! 💙

We Want to Hear From You!

Families and caregivers, the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) is seeking feedback from parents whose children currently attend licensed child care programs in the District of Thunder Bay. Your input will help support future planning and decision-making for child care services in our community.

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. As a thank you for participating, respondents can enter a draw to win 1 of 4 grocery gift cards valued at $250 each.

🗓️ Survey Deadline: June 19, 2026

Please take a few moments to share your experiences and help shape the future of child care in Thunder Bay.

Thank you for your participation and support!

Child Care Needs Based Survey Powered by SimpleSurvey.com | Build and manage your own online survey, voting, form and panel management applications.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Footsteps Family Centre 💐

Today, we took some time to celebrate the incredible mothers, caregivers, parents and special women in our children’s lives with flowers, treats, and sweet moments shared together at drop-off and pick-up.

We are so grateful for the love, care, patience, and support you pour into your children each and every day. Watching the children proudly hand out flowers and celebrate the important people in their lives made today extra special.

Wishing all of our families a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend filled with love, appreciation, and time together!

It’s that time again!

We are so excited to invite our families to our Annual Family Picnic & Graduation Celebration! This special event is a time for us to come together, celebrate the incredible growth of our children, and honour our graduates as they get ready for their next chapter.

Join us for a fun-filled evening of connection, play, and memory-making with activities and food for everyone to enjoy!

📅 June 10th, 2026
🕒 5:00 PM
📍 Footsteps Family Centre

Please note that there will be two sign-up sheets posted at the front door of the centre:

• One to indicate attendance so we can plan accordingly and ensure enough food is prepared. On this sheet please note how many people you will bring.

• One for photo consent, giving permission for photos to be used for documentation within the centre and on our page

We appreciate your support in helping us prepare for this special event!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you all, see you there! 💛

🐰🌷 Easter Weekend Closure Reminder 🌷🐰

Friendly reminder to our Footsteps families that the centre will be closed for the Easter long weekend on:

• Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday)
• Monday, April 6th (Easter Monday)

We hope you all enjoy a safe, relaxing, and joyful long weekend with your families 💛

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday!