Message from the Executive Director
Even after 48 years, I still go to work every day actively aware of how lucky I am to have this job. It is a privilege to work with such amazing teachers, parents and children. The absolute best thing about this job, though, is a workplace perk you just couldn’t get anywhere else: If I’m having a stressful day, I can walk across the hall, into the infant room and pick up a baby.
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You might think gathering 50 or so children under one roof would lead to pure energy-sapping pandemonium. But the opposite is true. As one parent told me recently, “Downtown Montessori creates a space unlike the rest of the world – including other daycares. I feel it every time I drop my boys or pick them up. As soon as you walk in the door, you sense this beautiful combination of warmth, richness and hyper-organization.”
It is an environment that really stays with you. Some of our children grew up to become teachers who now work in our classes. Others return as parents, offering their children the same rich environment they once enjoyed. And many of our teachers and staff have been with us for decades – our daycares are places people simply love to be.
During my time here, I have become a grandmother many times over. I have watched my children and theirs grow up, while also influencing the lives of hundreds of other kids through Downtown Montessori. I see how the skills we impart here – not just numeracy and literacy, but also problem solving, conflict resolution, active citizenry and more – stay with children right on into adulthood.
It does make me feel a little bit proud, but my overwhelming response – and not just because of my access to infant-based stress relief – is just to feel entirely fortunate to be a part of it all.
Liz Ferguson, Executive Director
Downtown Montessori
Manjit Dhaliwal
Director of Administration
Ayisha Hassanali
Director of Policy & Program
Board of Directors
Margaret Simmons – Chair/President
Astrid Budd – Treasurer
Margaret McIntosh – Member at large
Jill Hutson – Member at large
Sophia Dales – Member at large
Omesh Mutukuda – Member at large
Rianne Tel – Member at large
Our History
Established in 1976 by Elizabeth Ferguson and Mona Stephens, Day Care Connection (Toronto) Inc. is licensed as a not-for-profit operator under the CCEYA (Child Care and Early Years Act) by the Ministry of Education. We are registered under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Childcare (CWELCC) system and the Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA). We have successfully mounted programs and services for families with children from birth to age twelve. Through these programs, we are available to families as they move through the changing family stages from making the first choice for an infant through the child entering school. We have a proven track record of thinking through challenges, creating unique solutions before a program starts, and learning quickly from our experiences. We have demonstrated expertise in providing high quality, user responsive, well-managed and responsible care services.
Our licensed home child care program was how this all started, and it provides government-regulated, home based child care. Our Family Resource program was our next addition, and is an EarlyON drop-in centre that is open to parents/guardians, caregivers, nannies, grandparents or any adult who is caring for young children. Kids Club is a before and after school-based program for children from kindergarten to grade six.
Our child learning programs are built upon the best practices of Early Childhood Education. We added the Montessori curriculum in 2003 and operate 4 schools under the name Downtown Montessori with potential expansion in the foreseeable future. Each of our four Montessori schools are for children from about 12 months to six years of age.
Downtown Montessori is part of the Not-For-Profit Day Care Connection family. Please visit Day Care Connection for more information on all of our programs.
