If you build it,
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In 1981, Louise DeCorso and Chris Finlay realized a dream when they opened their first licensed child care centre at Forest Hill Public School. This was the beginning of Owl Child Care Services of Ontario. Over the next 30 years, Owl's business grew and expanded as centres were added or relocated. From a small private company to a non-profit, registered charity, Owl quickly grew into one of the largest centre-based child care agencies in the Waterloo Region.
From the beginning, the focus was on quality child care that enables Learning, Sharing, Caring and Growing!
|
Date |
Significant Event |
Notes |
|
1981 |
Organization formed First centre at Forest Hill Public School |
For-profit Licensed for 24 |
|
1982 (Sep) |
Centre opened at Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
|
Licensed for 54 |
|
1983 (Jan) |
Centre opened at Stanley Park Baptist Church |
Licensed for 58, |
|
1986 |
University Ave centre opened in shared space with KW Hab |
Licensed for 45, |
|
1987 (Fall) |
Forest Hill P.S. centre relocated to Forest Hill United Church
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1987 |
Shareholders began researching a switch to a non-profit organization |
|
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1991 (Aug 27) |
Incorporated as Owl Child Care Services
|
Non-profit |
|
1992 (May) |
Stanley Park location moved to Chicopee Park Plaza |
Licensed for 68, |
|
1993 |
Centre moved from University Ave to Northland
|
Licensed for 93, |
|
1994 |
Board increased its membership to 15 |
|
|
1995 (Jan) |
Centre opened at St. Matthew Catholic School |
Licensed for 84, |
|
1995 |
Opened an administrative office |
|
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1998 |
Developed a Home Child Care program |
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1998 (Mar) |
Registered under the Charities Act |
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1998 |
Chicopee centre increased its capacity |
Licensed for 105, |
|
1998 |
St. Matthew centre increased its capacity |
Licensed for 92, |
|
1999 |
Home Child Care program terminated |
|
|
1999 |
School age programs opened as satellites
|
JK to age 12 only
|
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2001 (Aug 31) |
Westmount location closed due to low enrolment |
Child care spaces were incorporated into the new St. Nicholas site that was to open shortly |
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2001 (Sept) |
2 new centres opened in Waterloo
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2003 (June) |
After school program at Sir Edgar Bauer was terminated due to low enrolment |
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2003 (Sept) |
Fischer location moved to John Sweeney Catholic School |
Capacity increased due to new school-age component |
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2004 (Jul) |
Northland centre moved to Lincoln Road |
Licensed for 70 |
|
2004 (Sept) |
New centre opened in Cambridge
|
Licensed for 108; 10 staff |
|
2006 (June) |
After school program at Lexington Public School terminated due to low enrolment. |
|
|
2010 (July) |
Administration Office moved from River Road to Washburn Drive. Creative Learning Station opened |
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|
2010 (Sept) |
Chicopee centre closed. Program relocated to a new centre:
|
PJP licensed for 68 full time + 73 school-age.
1st infant program within school-site. |
Fast forward to today...
|
Centre |
Groups Served |
|
Administration Office |
n/a |
|
Creative Learning Station |
ECEs, Guide/Scout leaders, scrapbook enthusiasts, parents, others |
|
John Sweeney Kitchener |
Toddler, Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, School-age (18 months - 10 years) |
|
Lincoln Road |
Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K (3 months - 5 years) |
|
Our Lady of Fatima 55 Hammet St. Cambridge |
Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, (2 - 10 years) |
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Pope John Paul II 75 Pebblecreek Dr Kitchener |
Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, (3 months - 10 years) |
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St. Luke 550 Chesapeake Dr. Waterloo |
Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, (2 - 10 years) |
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St. Matthew 405 Pastern Trail Waterloo |
Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, (2 - 10 years) |
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St. Nicholas 525 Laurelwood Dr. Waterloo |
Preschool, Nursery School, JK/K, (2 - 10 years) |