Our History

Creative Minds Early Learning Centre began as a classroom in Southlands Elementary school. Due to school expansion, we purchased our present building through small fund raising ventures, we also received assistance from the Vancouver Foundation and successful applications with BC Lotteries.  With the kind support of the principal and staff at Southlands School, we applied to lease the space where the building is now placed. We pay all utilities and expenses associated with owning the  building.

The Creative Minds Centre is operated by a charitable, non-profit organization run by a Board of Directors who are community members that volunteer their time and expertise.  The goal of the Board and the teachers at Creative Minds is to develop and deliver, with meaningful parent involvement, a childcare service that reflects family and community values and needs. The Board, along with the teachers, work to provide an exemplary program reflecting the best available knowledge about early childhood development.

Administration

Creative Minds Early Learning Society was founded in 1982 with the intention to develop a non-profit, child care centre with charitable status. Kate McCabe and a number of community-minded individuals have creates a child care program based on the belief that each child and adult is inherently worthy of respect, kindness, and care. Since the first day Creative Minds opened, teachers and directors have listened to children and their parents and have applied sound theoretical practices to bring about exemplary early childhood experiences to children.

Board of Directors

The Society has non-profit status and is in good standing with the Charities Division. The volunteer Board is composed of interested community members who bring a wide range of expertise including social work, services for special needs, nursing, teaching, music, community projects and parenting.

The members of the board have dedicated many years to the program’s development and their ongoing voluntary support has helped Creative Minds Early Learning Centre become one of the finest child care facilities in the city of Vancouver.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that a high quality child care service (as defined in the goals and objectives of the Society) is provided. Within the facility the Centre Director is responsible for planning and overseeing the day to day operations of the Centre including staff and parent liaison. The team lead, Mary Fai, is in charge when the Director is away.

Creative Minds has a group license (#30-05486) serving 25 children per day ages 2.5 years to school-age

3 teachers minimum. Creative Minds Early Learning Centre has 4-5 teachers present daily supplemented by practicum students from Early Childhood Training Programs.

Refer to Vancouver Coastal Health Licensing for more information.