independent licensed child care programs ramp up community ...

ChildcareTODAY
THE ASSOCIATION OF DAY CARE OPERATORS OF ONTARIO
ADCO
BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011
INDEPENDENT LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
RAMP UP COMMUNITY OUTREACH
ADCO Members Show Canadian
Spirit At World Forum
Kids Helping Kids Walkathon
One Of ADCO’s Biggest
Events Ever!
0007273860
41611040

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
Board of Directors
Bonnie Walraven
Co-President
Grey County–Bruce County
Kim Yeaman
Co-President
Simcoe County
Greg Humphreys
Past President ~ Peel Region
Karen Eilersen
Treasurer ~ Barrie
Holton Hunter
Toronto
Wendy Marshall
Bolton–Palgrave
Erla McCaig
Waterloo–Halton
Kerri Whitaker
Markam
Carol Sideris
Orangeville
Joan Willms
Toronto, Scarborough, Stouffville
ADCO At Your Service
Membership Information
To become a member of ADCO,
please visit www.adco-o.on.ca
Walkathon Information
To learn more about the ADCO “Kids
Helping Kids” Walkathon and how
you can participate, please contact
walkathon@adco-o.on.ca
Other Enquiries
Media, corporate and other ADCO
enquiries may be directed to:
ahannen@adco-o.on.ca
A publication of the Association of Day
Care Operators of Ontario.
Publications Mail Agreement
0007273860
41611040
Published Quarterly
Winter / Spring / Summer / Fall
Publisher:
Andrea Hannen
Associate Editor:
Greg Humphreys
Advertising Coordinator:
Kathy Filo
advertising@childcaretoday.ca
Graphic Design:
Engine Communications
Advertising enquiries, address
changes, undeliverable address
blocks, and questions about the
products or services you’ve read about
in this magazine may be directed to:
Childcare Today
P.O. Box 46
Palgrave, ON L7E 3S9
Toll Free: 1.800.567.7075
Fax: 705.733.2154
e-mail: admin@childcaretoday.ca
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
CO-PRESIDENTS' ......3
MESSAGE
POLICY WATCH ........5
AS I SEE IT .............7
KIDS HELPING KIDS
WALKATHON ..........8
ADCO WAS THERE ....10
COVER STORY ........12
Independent Licensed Child Care
Programs Ramp Up Community
Outreach
WORLD FORUM ......15
ADCO Members Show Canadian
Spirit
FEATURE STORY ......16
Get More Done, Feel Less Stressed
ADCO MEMBERSHIP
PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . .21
D & O Liability Isn’t Just For
Non-Profits
HEALTH, SAFETY &
NUTRITION. . . . . . . . . . .22
Supplements & Super Foods
MARKETPLACE .......23
ADCO MEMBERSHIP
INFO ..................24
Disclaimer:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
without the written permission of the publisher. ADCO
members in good standing may, however, photocopy specific
articles for free distribution to the parents and communities
they serve. Opinions and comments contained within reflect
those of the contributor and not necessarily those of the Association
of Day Care Operators of Ontario, or its members.
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 1

2 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
CO-PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE
By: Bonnie Walraven & Kim Yeaman,
Co-Presidents
Is Caring For Children
With Special Needs One
Of Your Specialties
F
irst of all, we’d like to begin
by thanking everyone
who attended the ADCO
Spring Luncheon & AGM. We appreciate
your interest in electing
the 2012 Board of Directors. We
also appreciate the generous and
ongoing support of our exhibitors,
sponsors and volunteers. Without
you, such events would not be
possible.
We would also like to acknowledge
the excellent job that Lee-
Anne Arkell and Sue Douglas did
as keynote presenters. Their message
was both timely and encouraging.
ADCO has since received
a great deal of positive feedback
about it. As a result, many ADCO
members are now seeing the potential
of their programs with
fresh eyes. They are looking at
what their centres have to offer
families that they can’t get anywhere
else.
What many of them are realizing
is that even in areas where fullday
JK and SK is readily available in
schools, some parents may continue
to choose an independent licensed
child care program to provide these
services. The parents of children
with special needs, differing abilities
or challenges are among those
most likely to do this. Independent
licensed child care programs have
a long history of offering creative,
practical and customized solutions
to ensure that each child achieves
his or her full potential. Often, these
solutions are developed because
the owner/operator has stepped in
to support the family when larger
institutions have turned the family
away, or simply failed to help
them. In many cases, independent
licensed child care programs offer a
level of flexibility that can’t be replicated
in an institutional setting,
where larger group sizes and deeply
entrenched bureaucracies make offering
customized solutions much
more difficult.
In the last issue of Childcare
Today, we interviewed a member
from Niagara, whose ECE
staff members have undergone
special training to help them
identify potential areas of challenge
for children. The rationale
behind this is threefold. It allows
the licensed child care program
to refer children to medical or
other professionals for further assessment;
to help parents understand
what they can do at home
to help their children be successful
and it facilitates the introduction
of appropriate classroom
supports while the family waits
for a definitive diagnosis or the
child undergoes treatment. In
the previous issue, we examined
some of the benefits of using
American Sign Language as
second language programming
in the licensed child care setting.
Dating back to 2008, some of the
most popular features Childcare
Today has ever published and
some of the most popular conference
sessions ADCO has ever offered
have highlighted the various
ways independent licensed
child care programs are supporting
children with differing abilities
and challenges.
Caring for children with differing
abilities and challenges is an
area where independent licensed
child care programs excel and one
that will become increasingly important
to families and communities,
as more and more children
are funneled into governmentrun,
school-based programs. Why
do independent licensed child
“Caring for children with differing abilities and challenges is an area where
independent licensed child care programs excel. They don’t look at children as
mere numbers, or as factors in per-unit funding formulas, as sometimes happens
in institutional settings. They relate to the families they serve and know that if
they don’t step forward and find a way to help, in many cases, the child may not
get the help or individualized attention he or she so desperately needs. ”
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 3

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
Co-President’s Message continued from page 3
care programs do so well serving
children with different abilities or
challenges The answer may lie in
the fact that most child care owner/operators
take their work very
personally. It isn’t just a business
for them. They don’t look at children
as mere numbers, or as factors
in per-unit funding formulas,
as sometimes happens in institutional
settings. They relate to the
families they serve and know that
if they don’t step forward and find
a way to help, in many cases, the
child may not get the help or individualized
attention he or she so
desperately needs.
Over the years, the habit of
stepping up has allowed most
independent licensed child care
programs to develop a very high
level of expertise and proficiency
in supporting families who have
children with differing abilities
and challenges. This means
that often, independent licensed
child care programs can offer
such families the highest level
of service and support, for much
less than it would cost a public
sector institution to provide even
the most basic measure of accommodation.
Here at ADCO, we believe that
doing good is just good business,
so we want to hear more about the
ways you’re supporting children
with differing abilities and challenges
at your centres and in your
communities. Please share your
stories with us at admin@childcaretoday.ca.
If you’re willing, you
might even wind up on the cover of
Childcare Today, or be invited to
speak at an ADCO event. By sharing
your ideas and experiences
with your fellow ADCO members,
you can make a positive difference
to families in similar situations
right across Ontario, so please
don’t be shy.
We look forward to hearing
from you!
Thank you to Kids & Company
for stepping up!
Earlier this year, ADCO received a frantic call from a
parent of a special needs child whose care had been
terminated without notice. The child had been enrolled
at the centre for four years, but has a number
of challenges that the centre was no longer willing
or able to accommodate. This left her mother in
an impossible situation, as she works full-time. The
family resides in the GTA, where municipal policies
introduced by the previous administration have limited
parents’ access to licensed child care services.
After contacting both Provincial and Municipal officials,
the mother reported being told there was not
another subsidized space available for her child. “I
feel that I am being blamed for my child’s disability!”
said the mother in her original call to ADCO.
The unique circumstances this family faced prompted
ADCO to investigate the matter further and to put
out a call to its members in the area, to see if anyone
could help. ADCO member Victoria Sopik of Kids &
Company immediately stepped forward with an offer
of a temporary space free of charge at a facility that
was close to the mother’s workplace. The mother reports
that when they were informed of this development,
the officials who originally had supported the
terminating centre’s decision and offered no other
alternatives were suddenly able to find a solution.
Thank you to Victoria and her team for the generosity
of their offer, and for being a catalyst to achieving a
better outcome for this most deserving family!
4 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
Government
POLICY WATCH
By: Greg Humphreys, Chair,
ADCO Government Relations Committee
ADCO introduces new government
relations newsletter
S
ince the last issue, ADCO centre members
have received their first monthly government
relations newsletter via email. This new publication
is designed specifically to help licensed child
care owners and managers in Ontario stay abreast of
current affairs and policy discussions that affect them
and to inform their community-level advocacy efforts.
In addition to an easy-to-read summary format, this
publication features links to the original source documentation
whenever possible, so you can see for yourself
the information upon which elected officials and
others will base their decisions. I can’t stress enough
how important it is for ADCO centre members to take
the time to educate themselves and take action on
these matters, particularly during election season.
The ADCO government relations committee has
also been working on your behalf to meet with senior
party officials of all political stripes, so they fully understand
the challenges families have been facing as a
result of the government’s Early Learning Program. In
many communities, the families of younger children
now have fewer licensed child care choices and must
pay higher prices for care, as some centres have closed
and others have struggled to keep their doors open.
The fact is there are many ways for full-day JK and
SK to be delivered so that any family who wants these
services can access them. Schools are just one option.
ADCO members should know—many of us have been
delivering licensed play-based learning programs for
the JK/SK age groups for more than 30 years!
ADCO’s message to party officials is clear. Of
course we believe high quality, licensed early learning
and care services should be accessible to every child
in Ontario. Our members--independent licensed child
care programs, both non-profit and private--are the
founders of Ontario’s child care infrastructure and will
continue to be the primary drivers of child care innovation.
The roots we have and investments we’ve made
in communities across the province are important, as
are the jobs we provide. All elected officials have an
obligation to help us continue to do what we do best-
-serve Ontario families. We’re willing to help expand
access to full-day JK and SK services, all any government
needs to do is open the door to collaboration.
read any good
books lately
If there’s a book that has helped
you be a better leader or run your
program more effectively, or that you
often recommend to families at your
centre, please tell us about it. Let us
know the title, author and tell us why
you like it so much. You might even
become Childcare Today’s next “guest
reviewer.” You may share your literary
insights at: ahannen@childcaretoday.
ca or post them in ADCO’s membersonly
online discussion area, using the
“Recommended Reading” forum.
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 5

RECOMMENDED READING
GOOD TO GREAT:
Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
By: Jim Collins, 300 Pages, Harper Business, 2001
Available in a variety of formats at www.amazon.com, prices start at $17.99 new, $5.00 used
This book comes highly recommended by ADCO Corporate Associate member Jeff Morris,
of Ladder Software. In the last 10 years, the book has sold three million copies and has been
translated into 35 languages. To write it, Collins and a team of some two dozen researchers
examined companies that had achieved remarkable improvements to their profitability and
market share, looking at what key traits these companies had in common. Their discussion
of the seven key traits they identified offers a host of practical insights that can be applied
in any business or organization. These insights have also stood the test of time. Of the
ten companies Collins and his team studied back in 2001, nine are still outpacing their
competitors. Collins has also since published a supplementary resource book specifically
for readers of Good To Great who work in the social service sectors.
About the Author: Jim Collins is a teacher and author. His work has been featured in Fortune, The Wall Street Journal,
Business Week, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company. As a consultant, he has worked with leaders in a wide
variety of companies and organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs and The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non-
Profit Management.
6 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
As I See It
YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE
A GREAT MANAGER - PART 2
By: Jeff Morris, Managing Partner, Ladder Software Inc.
I
n the first article of this two-part series on
managing your staff team, we covered how
understanding your business objectives and
adopting a service-focused mindset can enhance your
level of accomplishment as a day care owner/operator.
In this issue, we will continue on with our theme and
discuss some of ways you can empower others and inspire
them to do their very best.
Empowering others
Not all people have the same level of confidence in
themselves that many managers and owners might. This
relates to what we mentioned last time about managers
and owners often having a certain breed of character
which usually causes them to be more action-oriented or
visionary. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that
your employees don’t have the same orientation inside
of them. In a lot of cases it simply means they need someone
else to help bring it out. As an employer, you have a
unique opportunity to do this. Learn to look at every situation
from the perspective of empowering your people
to accomplish more and take on new responsibilities. If
you make a point of mastering this skill, you’ll not only
increase your employees’ sense of accomplishment, but
help them find new energy for their work.
Empowering people can be difficult. Owners/managers
often like to feel a certain sense of control, not necessarily
because they’re controlling, but because they know
that if they control situations they can usually predict the
results. While predicting results is important to maintaining
the success of the business, it’s not productive to have
each employee working on his or her own project without
knowing how that project impacts the business as a
whole. So how do you empower people to be more independent,
without losing control over how they impact
your business
It starts with measuring everything you do or delegate
against your business objectives, so that you can ensure
that what each team member is working on will support
your overall goals. A more difficult hurdle is that of trust.
You need to have a certain level of trust that the person
or people you are empowering will follow through. Trust
is hard to earn and easy to lose, so you’ll need to be vulnerable
and allow other people to earn your trust. You
can do this by opening doors and giving your employees
small projects that relate to your business objectives.
Once each person has a few small wins under their belt,
you can give them larger projects and slowly assign more
responsibility. Each small win represents another level
of trust for you and another level of self-confidence for
members of your team.
Being a role model to others
No matter how good you are at explaining your
business objectives and empowering your staff team to
achieve them, you’ll still need to lead by example. Your
actions have a dramatic effect on how your employees
view their own work. One of the great parts about this
is the personal development opportunity it offers you.
Like it or not, all business owners, managers and
supervisors are constantly under the microscope of
their employees. They notice everything and know you
far better than you might wish to believe. The only way
to earn their respect is by behaving the way you would
like them to behave: with honesty and integrity; passion
for their work and genuine compassion for others.
Most employees sincerely want to work with someone
they can admire and respect. You can motivate your
team and yourself by continually pushing yourself to
be the best example you can possibly be.
A good place to start is to read everything you can
on leadership and managing people. One of the books
I particularly like is: Good to Great by Jim Collins
(HarperBusiness, 2001). The cool part about this book
is that it was written to explain how large organizations
became successful, but the author describes the
ideas in such easy to understand language, that they
can be applied to any person or business.
Ladder Software Inc. is an ADCO Corporate Associate Member
and the maker of Sandbox Daycare Management Software.
You may contact Jeff directly at jmorris@ladderinc.ca.
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 7

Kids Helping Kids
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ADCO
THE ASSOCIATION OF DAY CARE OPERATORS OF ONTARIO
walkathon update
A
DCO’s 2011 Kids Helping Kids Walkathon
was one of its most successful events ever,
with over 100 centres participating across
the province. The families, staff and children at these
centres committed their time and steps to raise funds
to support the life-saving work of Ontario’s four regional
children’s hospitals. Individuals and businesses
in their local communities sponsored their efforts.
Funds are still trickling in and tallies taken, so the
final total is not yet available but is expected to exceed
$65,000.
In its history, the ADCO Kids Helping Kids Walkathon
has raised over a million dollars for Ontario’s children’s
hospitals.
Thank you to this year’s Kids Helping Kids Walkathon
participants:
ABC Preschool Learning Centre, Ottawa
Alpha Child Care, Brampton
Avenue Road Child Care, Toronto
Bambi's Castle, Timmins
Bayview Gardens Child Care, Willowdale
Brant Children's Centre, Burlington
Burlington Childrens Centre, Burlington
Byron Street Academy East, Whitby
Centres for Early Learning, Scarborough (3 locations)
Centres For Early Learning, Toronto (2 locations)
Centres For Early Learning, Weston
Centres For Early Learning, Downsview
(2 locations)
Centres for Early Learning, North York
Century Childcare, Oakville
Children's Castle Daycare, Ottawa
Children's Village Daycare, Scarborough (2 locations)
Child's Paradise Day Care Centre, Renfrew
Christ Church Child Care Centre, Stouffville
Discovery Child Care Centre, Barrie
Discovery Place Child Care Centre, Pickering
Discovery Place Child Care Centre, Toronto
Don Mills Children’s Centre, Toronto
Edukids Child Care, Ajax
Edukids Child Care, Pickering (2 locations)
Edukids Child Care, Whitby
EduKids Child Care, Brooklin
Finch Business Park Child Care Centre, Toronto
Graydon Hall Child Care Services, Toronto
Helping Hands Daycare, Ajax (2 locations)
Helping Hands Daycare, Brooklin
Helping Hands Daycare, Courtice
Helping Hands Daycare, Pickering (2 locations)
Heritage Green Child Care, Stoney Creek
Highlands Early Learning and Child Care Centre,
Emsdale
Jubilee Daycare, Toronto
Kidzdome Preschool, Grimby
Kimbercroft Day Nurseries, Scarborough (2 locations)
Kinder Haus Day Care, Beamsville
Kingsway Nursery School, Toronto
8 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
Kids Helping Kids
Little Learning House, Hamilton
Little People's Play School, Ajax
Mulberry Bush Child Centre, London
Orleans Child Care Centre, Orleans
Our Lady of Good Cousel Child Care Centre, Sharon
Parkway Daycare Centre, Townsend
Parkwood Children's Daycare Centre, London
Peekaboo Child Care, Acton
Peekaboo Child Care, Brampton (6 locations)
Peekaboo Child Care, Burlington
Peekaboo Child Care, Cambridge (2 locations)
Peekaboo Child Care, Georgetown
Peekaboo Child Care, Kitchener
Peekaboo Child Care, Milton (2 locations)
Peekaboo Child Care, Mississauga (6 locations)
Peekaboo Child Care, Oakville
Peekaboo Child Care, Orangeville
Peekaboo Child Care, Vaughan
Pineview Child Care Centre, Gloucester
Play House Learning Centre, Napean
Pumpkin Patch Child Care, Caledon
Pumpkin Patch Two, Bolton
Scarborough Village Day Nursery, Scarborough
Scarborough Village, Toronto (2 locations)
Share and Care Child Care Centre, Stouffville
Sheppard Business Park Child Care, North York
Sheppard Square Child Care Centre, Toronto
Simcoe Childcare Services, Innisfil
St. George's Daycare, Ajax
St. Paul's, Pickering
St. Peter's Day Care, Hamilton
Stouffville Village Childcare, Stouffville
Sunderland Country Day School, Sunderland
Sunshine Child Care, Toronto (3 locations)
Sunshine Child Care, Scarborough (5 locations)
Tamarack Day Care Centre, Scarborough
Teddy Bear Academy, Toronto
The Day Care Centre "a special place", Beamsville
(2 locations)
The Moppett School Child Care, Newmarket
The Orchard Children's Centre, Burlington
Tiny Treasure, Mississauga
Waweniwin Learning Centre, Moosonee
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 9

ADCO Was There
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ADCO’s 2011 Spring Luncheon & AGM
O
n Friday, May 27 ADCO held its 2011 Spring
Luncheon & AGM at the Delta Markham
Hotel & Conference Centre. As always,
the event featured plenty of time for members to
meet with other licensed child care owner/operators
and to learn about new products and services from
featured exhibitors. Making this event extra-special
was an outstanding keynote presentation by Lee-
Anne Arkell, founder of Peekaboo Child Care Centres
and Sue Douglas of SDC Solutions. This unique
presentation provided conference participants
with a treasure trove of ideas for marketing their
programs, instilling loyalty among their existing
clients and training staff to serve as ambassadors for
their centres. One of the exhibitors at the conference
who also attended the presentation indicated that
she had worked in sales her whole life and was
“absolutely blown away by the quality and depth of
the suggestions the speakers offered.”
ADCO wishes to extend its deepest thanks to the
staff at the Delta Markham for doing such a terrific job
on this event, to the many volunteers who gave their
time to help plan and organize it, to the guest speakers
who made such a profound impact on the audience,
and to the following exhibitors whose support made
the 2011 Spring Luncheon possible.
Aquacharge Inc.(Pathocept)
Avron School & Daycare Supplies
CCV Insurance & Financial Services
Educational Kids Play
Food For Tots
Green Apple Studio
Ladder Software
Lamontagne Fundraising
Ministry of Environment
Quality Classrooms
Scholars Choice
Sentient HR Services
Sonsuh Educational Supplies
Spectrum Educational Supplies
Summer Advantage
The Manndate Group/Jonti-Craft
WizKids
World’s Finest Chocolates
10 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ADCO was pleased to welcome Gord Skinner
from Aquacharge to his first ADCO event.
CCV Insurance & Financial Services was a
proud sponsor of the luncheon.
Green Apple Studio recently joined ADCO as
a corporate associate member.
Trudy Feeney of the Manndate Group chats
with conference participants about the
Jonti-Craft product line.
Chocolate tastings and treats to take home
are always a favourite at the World’s Finest
Chocolate exhibit.
Bernie Kappius of Summer Advantage looks
forward to meeting more members of the
ADCO family.
Drinking water inspectors Aaron Hornby
and Jillian Reynolds answered members’
questions at the Ministry of Environment
display.
At the Avron School & Daycare Supplies
exhibit, participants received these
terrific totebags filled with samples of the
company’s products.
Lamontagne Fundraising greeted conference
participants with tasty samples and a friendly
smile.
Trade was brisk at the Quality Classrooms
display.
For more Spring Luncheon photos please visit
www.childcaretoday.ca
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 11

Cover Story
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
Independent Licensed Child Care Programs
Ramp Up Community Outreach
By: Andrea Hannen
O
n May 27, independent
licensed child care owner/
operators from across Ontario
gathered at the Delta Markham
to share ideas and best practices at
ADCO’s 2011 Spring Luncheon &
AGM. The event featured a provocative
and inspiring presentation by
Lee-Anne Arkell, founder of Peekaboo
Child Care Centres and Sue
Douglas of SDC Management Solutions.
Their core message “Take advantage
of the trend toward greater
public awareness of the importance
of play-based learning. Build on it
and use it to keep your current customers,
attract new ones and promote
your programs more widely in
the communities you serve.”
“One of the reasons ADCO selected
this year’s AGM presentation was
to remind child care owner/operators
that they were providing high quality
play-based learning services long
before such services were being delivered
by the public sector,” says ADCO
Co-President Kim Yeaman. “The last
three years have been a tough time
to be in child care. Vital resources
have been devoted to building and
marketing new government-run JK
and SK facilities in schools, rather
than making it easier for working
families to access the many licensed
child care resources that already existed
for that age group in communities
across the province.”
“The last few years haven’t just
been tough on child care centres,”
adds ADCO Co-President, Bonnie
Walraven. “While taxpayer dollars
have funded a saturation level rotation
of television ads touting the
benefits of play-based learning in
schools, the tens of thousands of
Ontario families who rely on independent
licensed child care programs
every day are now facing
uncertainty about the future of the
centres they’ve come to think of as
extensions of their own families.”
Yeaman’s opening remarks at the
ADCO event echoed the sentiments
of many child care owner/operators
throughout Ontario. “I know that
at my centre, we’ve often felt overwhelmed
by all of the news coverage
given to the Provincial government’s
expansion into child care service delivery.
We’ve learned though, that
the more we focus on what government
is doing, the less we see of what
we need to be doing. It’s important to
remember that government doesn’t
define who we are or how far our
program can go. What really counts
is how well we serve the families at
our centre, how we improve their
lives, and how we keep improving
ourselves as educators and entrepreneurs.
There will always be families
Management Consultant Sue Douglas
of SDC Management Solutions and Lee-
Anne Arkell, Founder of Peekaboo Child
Care Centres gave the keynote address at
the 2011 ADCO Spring Luncheon.
that want and need the unique blend
of quality, expertise, flexibility and
responsiveness that only an independent
licensed child care program can
provide. It’s just that reaching out to
them is now part of our daily lives in
ways that it never was before.”
Reaching out is one of the things
that Peekaboo Child Care Centres
does best. In 12 years, it has expanded
to 26 locations and over 600 employees.
All of the Peekaboo centres
offer programming for the JK and
SK age groups, and some even have
waiting lists for these programs.
“We’ve made a point of providing
families with a level of service and
personalized attention they can’t get
elsewhere,” explains Arkell.
"There will always be families that want and need the unique blend of quality,
expertise, flexibility and responsiveness that only an independent licensed
child care program can provide. It’s just that reaching out to them is now
part of our daily lives in ways that it never was before.”
12 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
“We look at everything we do
from a parent’s perspective and try
to treat families they way we’d want
someone to treat us. When I started
Peekaboo, my goal was to create the
centre I wished I could find for my
child. I’ve never considered it as just a
business. Most child care owner/operators
are that way. Most of us struggle
to think like business owners, even
when our centres are incorporated
as commercial entities.” During the
ADCO presentation, Arkell warned
child care owner/operators against
allowing themselves to be intimidated
by all of the hype surrounding the
ELP. “Lots of you have been offering
play-based learning services, JK and
SK, for more than 30 years. You are
the experts in the field, and your programs
have many unique strengths
you can build on to keep growing
your customer base and contributing
to your community.”
Douglas, a management consultant,
encouraged participants to examine
these strengths and to understand
that they are “points of power.”
She then walked participants through
the process of working from these
strengths to develop and achieve
sales goals. “You need systematic approaches
for earning referrals from
your existing clients, generating new
leads and increasing your community
visibility and presence.”
Both spaekers stressed the importance
of developing standardized
tools to use for these purposes
and training staff in their use. Some
of the tips they offered included:
Creating referral cards that
can be customized with a
picture of a client’s child
and provided to the client.
The rationale is simple: referral
cards that feature a photo of a client’s
child are more likely to be passed on
to the family and friends of that client.
These customized referral cards also
convey a higher level of credibility
than a simple business card because
they feature a child the recipient
knows. It’s also a way of showcasing
the kinds of activities that children
are involved in at your centre.
“We look at everything we do from a parent’s
perspective and try to treat families they way
we’d want someone to treat us.”
Selecting and training
staff to give high quality
familiarization tours and
to use the familiarization
tours as opportunities to
listen for parents’ specific
interests, needs and
circumstances.
By investing in scripting, training
and rehearsals, you can be
certain that staff members are
equipped to handle this aspect of
the sales process with proficiency
and confidence, and that parents
are actually being made aware of
all of the great things that are happening
at your centre.
Being visible in the
community and supporting
a variety of local events and
causes.
How that looks will vary from
centre to centre. You may choose
to sponsor or coach a team, to
set up a child-minding service
at community events, or to have
an exhibit at one of these events
where you hand out little boxes
of crayons to children, while
meeting face-to-face with families
and inviting them to visit
your centre.
Tapping your own network
of contacts and asking for
referrals. You have a huge
sphere of acquaintances,
all of whom are likely to
help you if you ask.
Your doctor, lawyer, banker
or accountant might know someone
who needs your services. Ask
them. Participate in a business
networking group and make a
point of choosing suppliers in the
local community. If you’re supporting
them, odds are they’ll
want to return the favour.
Following up with people
who toured or used your
centre, but ultimately
made another choice.
Follow-up a few months later
and ask how things are working
out. Let the parent know you’re
there if they need you and that
you’d be happy to see them
again. Sometimes people want
to come back but feel awkward
about it. Make a point of reaching
out. Even if they don’t say
“yes,” most will appreciate the
gesture and often will refer you
to a friend or family member because
of it.
In concluding their presentation,
Arkell and Douglas noted:
“There are lots of reasons to choose
an independent licensed centre
over the other options out there,
and lots of reasons for parents to
choose your centre. Whether your
program is large or small, single
site or multi-site, private or not-forprofit;
one of your main tasks as
an owner/operator is to make sure
families in your community know
what these reasons are.”
Lee-Anne Arkell is the founder of Peekaboo
Child Care Centres. To learn more
about Peekaboo, please visit www.
peekabookid.com. To get in touch with
Sue Douglas or learn more about SDC
Management Solutions, please visit
www.sdcmanagementsolutions.ca..
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 13

14 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
World Forum
ADCO Members Show Canadian
Spirit At World Forum
I
n May, the World Forum on Early Care and
Education was held in Hawaii. The World
Forum brings together over 800 delegates
from 70 countries to share and exchange information
on every facet of child development and programming.
The sessions covered curriculum, special education,
brain development and the rights of children within the
Early Childhood years. There were also opportunities
to expand knowledge on leadership, relationships and
staff development. ADCO members Wendy Marshall
and Sandra Vieira of Pumpkin Patch Child Care Centres
attended this inspiring event.
Marshall, owner of Pumpkin Patch and a member
of the ADCO board of directors has attended the World
Forum before, as has Vieira, who works as Supervisor
and Program Manager for Pumpkin Patch. “With
delegates from all over the world, we gain a wealth of
information every time we go,” says Marshall.
One of the recreation-time options offered by the
organizers of this year’s World Forum was a chance to
participate in a volunteer effort to build a preschool
facility at a shelter for homeless families on the Island
of Oahu. Of the delegates attending the World Forum,
only a dozen opted to participate in the project. Nine of
them were Canadian. Marshall and Vieira were proud
to be among them.
Bright Horizons Foundation for Children organized
this outreach day to assist the Ka Pa’Alana Preschool
Program at Hope for a New Beginning Shelter. A U.S.
Of the twelve World Forum participants who volunteered to build
the Ka Pa’Alana Preschool, nine were Canadian.
Families at the preschool participate in the theme-based
curriculum.
Military base provides barracks that have been turned into
a homeless shelter consisting of family units. The families
are allowed to stay in the barracks at no charge for eight
months. After that time they can stay on for another
fifteen months while they contribute financially.
The U.S. Military has also provided two yurts for
preschool classrooms and an outdoor play area. The
parents become part of the thematic center-based
preschool learning environment. The program offers
parents education on the developmental stages of their
children, behaviour management techniques and the
importance of play in their children’s lives, as well as
providing adult literacy services.
The work detail Marshall and Vieira volunteered for
involved weeding the play area of indigenous plants with
sharp thorns that injure the children who run about bare
footed. The two also helped build a shed, attached screen
mesh around the perimeter of the yurts, and built, sanded
and painted planter boxes. Additionally, the volunteers
assembled toys and activities for the classrooms and
playground. Each volunteer had the opportunity to
spend time in the classroom with the children and had a
chance to chat with the staff. They also talked with the
parents who are so very grateful that their children are
having this incredible educational opportunity.
“It was a fantastic experience,” notes Vieira. “We
started out as strangers, but by the end of the day we
felt very connected to the people there. Despite being
hot, tired and sweaty, both Wendy and I were left
feeling that we received far more than we gave.”
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 15

Feature Story
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
You Can Get More Done &
FeEl Less Stressed—Part 2
By: Tammy McCormick & Andrea Hannen
TIPS FOR TAMING COMMON
TIME-GOBLINS
T
his is the second installment in a two-part
series about getting more done and feeling
less stressed at work. It is designed specifically
with the needs of child care owner/operators in mind.
Our previous article examined some of the general principles
of time management and offered seven tips for
putting these principles into action. This time around,
we’ll look at some of the biggest time-goblins that Ontario’s
child care owner/operators, directors and supervisors
face and some of the ways they tame them.
Email
It is no real surprise that email has been cited as a timegoblin.
Time will be saved if you approach email systematically.
Don’t open every email as it comes in. Turn off email
notifications and limit the amount of time spent checking
and processing email. Set aside two to four time slots of
20-30 minutes each day to check and respond to email. Understand
that not everyone needs an immediate response.
Respond to emails on a priority basis, set filters to re-route
your incoming mail and create folders that you can use to
prioritize your email as well. You can make folders named
“Urgent Reply Required", “Parents Reply Today”, Friends",
“Staff” etc. and when you open your inbox, immediately
shift emails to their respective folders. Try and clear your
inbox daily within the time you’ve allotted yourself. Otherwise,
the snowball effect will undoubtedly occur.
Chit Chat
Conversing with staff and others in the facility can be
vitally important to build relationships, maintain morale
and understand the array of issues that we are confronted
with daily. However, lengthy conversations can distract and
interrupt ourselves and others. Put a time limit, no more
than two minutes, and defer conversations about work to a
scheduled time. Alternatively, plan to circulate during staff
lunch and break times.
16 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011
Poor Filing Systems and Follow-up Notes
Searching for files and notes from meetings can certainly
impact your effectiveness and waste valuable
time. Schedule time immediately following meetings
to review and file notes, add action items on your “To
Do” list, and note items to delegate. This will reduce
your risk of dropping the ball or missing deadlines
and reduce time spent fixing costly mistakes because
of failing memories and searching for missing files
and notes.
Staff Inquiries
Responding to questions from individual staff
members can consume a great amount of time. Often
if one staff member has a question, the same
question is held by others. To save time answering
the same question more than once, connect with
everyone through email or post a note in your staff
room if you’re unable to communicate face-to-face
with your team. This will ensure that everyone has
received the same message in a timely manner and
also serves as a paper trail to which you can refer
back if needed.
Mismanaged and Unwarranted Meetings
Meetings that are not managed well or are unwarranted
can consume valuable time. An agenda
with a clear purpose and timeframe will prevent
tangents and meetings from getting off track
and ensure that the meeting is required and not
a matter of routine. In many instances, a simple
exchange of information is needed which doesn’t
warrant a meeting. An email would be suitable or
a quick telephone exchange. If you need to have indepth
discussions for decisions to be made a meeting
may be necessary. However, a meeting doesn’t
have to be called in one hour increments. Keep it
brief, focus on the issue at hand, and concentrate
on reaching a workable conclusion. Should some
participants be absent, have another person fill
them in on what was missed and provide them with
a copy of all materials and handouts.

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
General Interruptions
Feature Story
Ringing telephones, email, staff and parent enquiries,
child emergencies and interruptions of all
types are part of any childcare director’s job. Putting
strategies like those already discussed in place
can dramatically optimize your time. But, it is important
to organize your day in a way that reduces
and plans for interruptions. For example scheduling
paper work during child drop off and pick up times
may not be the most efficient use of your time, but
scheduling time to speak with individual parents during
that time will definitely reduce interruptions that
you may experience throughout the day answering
parent inquiries. Be available at lunch and break
times to chat with staff and schedule paperwork during
child nap times. Plan for an activity or project to
take more time than needed and leave a few minutes
each day between activities to compensate for time
lost during an interruption. Use deadlines to keep you
on track. Establish a code to let people know you are
working with a tight deadline. Often people will not
take offense if your lack of participation is the result
of a “deadline”. Remember all childcare directors experience
interruptions every day. The causes of your
interruptions are typically part of your responsibilities.
The key to dealing with this is to plan ahead of
time how you are going to manage interruptions, so
you can remain calm and effective. By doing this you
will dramatically tame the time-goblins and increase
your productivity
Tammy McCormick is the Executive Director of the Early Childhood
Community Development Centre (www.eccdc.org),
Canada's leading early learning and care resource, referral
and support organization. She is an RECE and early on in her
career worked as a centre director.
Andrea Hannen is a management consultant who specializes
in developing and implementing growth strategies for industry
associations. She has worked with clients in the child care
sector since 1993.
If you have a time management
tip to share, please send it to
admin@childcaretoday.ca
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 17

ADCO Website
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
EIGHT GREAT REASONS TO VISIT
WWW.CHILDCARETODAY.CA
T
f you’ve haven’t visited wwww.childcaretoday.
ca lately, you’re missing out. Here are just some
of the many reasons it’s worth your time.
To Market Your Program To Parents Who Are
Seeking Care In Your Area
Parents who are seeking licensed child care often
visit the ADCO web site as part of their search. In the
“for parents” section, they find a directory of ADCO
members, searchable by municipal region and children’s
age groups. While a basic listing is posted for you
when you first join ADCO and pay your membership
dues, you can update and enhance your directory listing
to include your logo, photos or links back to your
own web site.
To Help Parents Make Informed Decisions About
Child Care
For most parents, choosing a child care provider
is a huge challenge. The best customer is one who
asks lots of questions, knows what to look for
and is committed to finding the right fit for their
child, so be sure to refer parents to the “for parents”
area of www.childcaretoday.ca. There, they’ll
find helpful articles that explain the difference
between licensed and unlicensed care; the importance
of safety and cleanliness in the early learning
environment; and what to look for in terms of
programming and activities. There’s even a handy
checklist parents can print out and take with them
as they’re touring centres.
18 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011
Book a Supply Staff Today!
905-752-8120 • 1-877-STAFF-72
www.sentienthr.com

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ADCO Website
To Provide The Parents You Serve With Information
About Common Parenting Issues
ADCO has partnered with renown parenting expert
and author Elizabeth Pantley to provide concise,
easy-to-read articles on a variety of topics of interest to
parents, including behaviour management, caring for
newborns, and more.
To Find Out Who Does What In Government
In the “members only” section, ADCO centre
members enjoy a variety of resources to support their
advocacy efforts. One of the tricky parts of being a
child care owner/operator is that it isn’t always easy
to find out which level of government is responsible
for the issue or policy you’re researching. The ADCO
web site offers this insight and includes links where
you can look up your federal, provincial or local representatives.
To View Government Relations Updates & Find
Government Documents
ADCO retains a professional government relations
team to monitor and report on the activities of
the Provincial ministries, agencies and committees
involved in child care policy, funding, regulation
and other activities that may affect your program
or your role as an employer. In addition to viewing
the monthly updates, ADCO centre members can
find links to the government documents referenced,
as well as copies of provincial and municipal documents
and correspondence submitted by other ADCO
members.
To Buy or Sell A Licensed Day Care Centre
Advertisements in the “business opportunities”
section of the ADCO site may be viewed or purchased
by the general public, not just ADCO members. Many
ADCO members have achieved good results using
these ads, often calling ADCO before their ad terms
are up to ask us to remove them as they have achieved
their original goals.
To Find Qualified Staff
ADCO members in good standing may post jobs on
ADCO’s online job bank free of charge. Ads posted here
are visible to the general public in the “career opportunities”
section of the site. Members in larger urban centres
report excellent response rates to these ads, noting
that the applicants coming through the ADCO site are
better qualified than most.
To Connect With Other ADCO Members
The online discussion area in the “members only” section
of the web site is restricted to ADCO center members
only. Any centre member in good standing may introduce
a new topic for discussion, post a comment or question,
or respond to others. You can even choose a nickname for
use in this section, if you prefer to remain anonymous.
Examples of discussions include: sharing policies regarding
care for the children of staff members and how owner/
operators are coping with the affects of the full-day JK/SK
program. This is an excellent resource for ADCO members
who are new to the child care world and could benefit
from some informal mentoring and feedback during their
first few years.
Congratulations Kids Zone Child Care Centre!
A
EARLY REGISTRATION CONTEST winner
my Taus, co-owner of Kids Zone Child Care Centre was one of the
first people to register for the ADCO 2011 Spring Luncheon & AGM.
As a result, she will receive one free conference admission for the
2011 ADCO Fall Conference, scheduled for Friday, November 4 at the Delta
Markham. Amy and her husband Todd are great supporters of ADCO. The
two bring a unique blend of expertise to the leadership of their centre. Todd
is a Chartered Accountant and Amy is a Registered Nurse. Their Mississauga
centre serves children from six months to five years of age.
To ensure the early registration contest was absolutely fair, we removed
centres owned by ADCO board members from the pool of eligible
entries. We then enlisted the help of Serge Buy of Flagship Solutions. The
Flagship Solutions team works with ADCO to prepare the monthly government
relations update ADCO members receive as a benefit of ADCO
membership.
Serge Buy of Flagship Solutions
was pleased to assist ADCO with
the 2011 Spring Luncheon early
registration draw.
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 19

20 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ADCO Membership Programs
By: Deborah Gibson, B.A., CIP.
I
t may come as a surprise
to many to learn that privately
owned child care
programs and their owners face exposures
to litigation that are similar
to those faced by Directors and
Officers serving on a “Non-profit”
Board. Setting up an incorporated
entity does not shield the organization
or owners from being named
in a lawsuit for “wrongful acts”,
errors and omissions, or wrongful
employment related actions. While
organizational structures can differ
significantly, regulations imposed
by various Ministry-governed Acts
and Bills mean both non-profit and
commercial child care operations
must play by the same rules and be
held accountable.
The sources of Directors and
Officers liability suits against commercial
child care operators can
come from customers (parents),
DIRECTORS & OFFICERS LIABILITY
INSURANCE IS NOT JUST FOR THE
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
suppliers, competitors, creditors,
government and, thanks to Bill
168, even the most trusted employees.
The key to understanding how
insurance products respond is to
know the definitions of loss defined
as a “wrongful act” and that this
is distinct and excluded from most
standard General Liability wordings.
Your centre’s package policy
that provides Commercial General
Liability responds to two primary
areas, namely bodily injury and
property damage for which your
centre can be found negligent.
A Directors and Officers Liability
policy will typically revolve
around the insuring agreement
that refers to “All loss which the
Director or Officer shall become legally
obligated to pay as a Claim
first made against them during the
Policy Period for a Wrongful Act”
and for which the Corporation is
unable to indemnify them by law
or by reason of its financial impairment.
The definition of Director or
Officer is that of a duly elected or
appointed director of the Corporation,
along with further definitions
of insured persons (includes
employees and spouses as co-defendants,
subsidiaries or affiliates).
A wrongful act can mean an employment
related wrongful act like
harassment, discrimination, libel,
slander, humiliation, defamation
or invasion of privacy. It can also
mean “failure to provide or enforce
adequate or consistent corporate
policies and procedures designed to
prevent, halt or punish the conduct
highlighted in these types of wrongful
acts”. The other important coverage
issue is “defense costs” and
how insurance can respond to pay
high legal costs to prove your case.
Outside Directors’ Wrongful Acts
are also included.
It has become increasingly important
to keep up with current laws
and regulations that set standards
of practice for both childcare and
school safety and operations. If your
policies and procedures are not compliant
with current standards, even
the best policy will not protect you.
There are exclusions to review. We at
CCV Insurance are proud to support
ADCO members in helping them
understand these important areas.
We also encourage you to contact
ADCO for upcoming events, workshops
and resources to provide more
detailed information and access to
“Better Insurance”. Both non-profit
and commercial operators deserve
to BE SURE when it comes to all matters
of liability insurance!
This literature is descriptive only. The
precise coverage afforded is subject
to the terms, conditions and exclusions
of the policy issued. More information
on Bill 168 is available at
www.ontla.on.ca
“It has become increasingly important to keep up with current laws and
regulations that set standards of practice for both childcare and school
safety and operations. If your policies and procedures are not compliant with
current standards, even the best policy will not protect you."
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 21

Health, Safety & Nutrition
Ontario’s Childcare Industry
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
& “SUPER foods"
very day it seems as if there’s another so-called
“breakthrough” in nutrition--a new supplement,
a rare exotic fruit, or a new research
E
study touting the benefits of mega-doses of certain vitamins.
While following food fads can be risky for adults,
it’s definitely not a good idea for children. As a parent
or caregiver, your best bet for optimal child health is to
encourage children to eat a wide variety of foods, including
plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Nutritional Supplements
Most children can benefit from a good quality multivitamin
each day, but multivitamins are especially important
for children with food sensitivities or allergies, or
who are from vegetarian or vegan households. Whenever
possible, choose a more natural product, made from
food sources, as opposed to one made from synthetic
compounds. And, always speak with your child’s doctor
before administering any vitamins or supplements.
Super Foods
Another way to supplement your child’s diet is with
what are currently being called “super foods.” Super
foods are whole foods that have not been refined, processed
or preserved and are very close to their original
source. These foods provide a child's body with essential
fats, vitamins, minerals, lean proteins and iron. Incorporating
them into your child's routine is a way of providing
them with the essential nutrients necessary for
healthy growth and development.
Some Examples of Super Foods Include:
Whole grain bread
Whole grain breads break down into glucose-- the
main source of fuel your child needs to maintain energy.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a wonderful way for children to get
a sweet fix without the addition of refined sugars.
They’re also high in disease-preventing antioxidants.
Yogurt
It’s one of the best sources of protein and calcium
for your child.
22 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta carotene, vitamin
E, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.
Beans
Beans are packed with fibre and protein, and are
an excellent source of iron.
Broccoli
Broccoli offers many disease-fighting natural compounds
as well as a healthy dose of vitamin C.
Eggs
Eggs are a wonderful source of protein and essential
fats. The Omega-3 fats they contain have
been shown to improve skin, allergies, brain
function and mood in children.
One of the ways to add more super foods to children’s
diets is to choose fruits and vegetables based
on this simple colour guide.
White: Eat cauliflower more often than potatoes,
onions and mushrooms.
Green: Eat more dark lettuces, such as romaine
and red leaf lettuce; and spinach, broccoli and
Brussels sprouts rather than iceberg lettuce and
green beans.
Yellow/orange: Eat more carrots, sweet potatoes,
cantaloupe, oranges and grapefruit, instead of
sweet corn or bananas.
Red: Choose tomatoes, red peppers and strawberries
instead of apples.
Thank you to Food For Tots (www.fft.ca) for sharing this
information. For more healthy eating tips please visit
www.healthylicious.ca.

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
The Marketplace
SELLING YOUR
DAYCARE
Or do you know a location
that has a potential for
daycare in the GTA
Contact: Pahai Kuo (416) 875 8492
or pahai.kuo@gmail.com
ADCO 2011 FALL CONFERENCE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011
Delta Markham Hotel & Conference Centre
FALL CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:00 am - 9:15 am Registration, Exhibitors, Continental Breakfast
9:15 am - 9.30 am Welcome from Conference Chair
9:30 am - 11:00 am Morning Sessions
10:00 am - 12:00 pm Coffee, Exhibitors, Networking
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Plated Lunch, Draws, Exhibitors
12:45 pm - 2:15 pm Keynote Speaker
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Afternoon Sessions
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm President's Closing Remarks
AM Sessions:
Mary Soundy – Effective Performance Appraisals
Christopher Sideris – Achieving Success Through Online Marketing
Michael Lewis – Dealing With Difficult People
PM Sessions:
Kelsey Orth & Deborah Gibson - New Obligations in Employment
Jeff Bowman - Creativity
Michael Lewis - The Privilege of Leadership
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CHILDCARETODAY.CA
SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011 • ChildcareTODAY 23

Ontario’s Childcare Industry
ONLY ADCO MEMBERSHIP GIVES
YOU ACCESS TO ALL OF THESE GREAT
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Membership Fee Information
Fees are based on a sliding scale to encourage centres to join.
REGULAR Membership
First Centre ............................................................................. $250.00
(includes magazine subscription, owner/manager access to the "members only"
section of the ADCO web site, voting privileges at AGM, discounted pricing for
ADCO events, eligibility to purchase commercial liability and group benefits
insurance at special rates through exclusive ADCO programs, and much more.)
Each additional centre .......................................... $100.00/centre
(includes one magazine per centre and member benefits for each centre)
Maximum membership fee: ...........................................$1500.00
(includes magazines for up to 12 additional centres, plus member benefits for
each centre)
The ADCO membership year runs from January to December. Fees paid by those
joining ADCO mid-year will be pro-rated.
Associate Corporate Membership
(includes one magazine subscription, advance notice of print and mail advertising
opportunities, advance notice of ADCO events and exhibit and sponsorship
opportunities, invitations to networking events with ADCO members, preferential
advertising rates and more.)
Firms/Persons/Associations that supply goods/services to the
child care industry..................................................... $300.00
Associate Individual Membership
(includes one magazine subscription, advance notice of ADCO events, invitations to
networking events with ADCO members and the option to purchase RECE Errors and
Omissions Insurance through the ADCO MY SCHOOL program.)
An Individual or ECE interested in
managing or owning a child care program................. $150.00
Student Membership
(Proof of student status required annually. Includes one magazine subscription,
discount pricing on ADCO events, invitations to events where you can network
with child care owners and managers.)
An individual enrolled in an ECE degree/diploma
program................................................................... $50.00
Visit www.adco-o.on.ca and click the Join ADCO
link on the front page of the site.
Or, if you don’t have easy computer access, please call 1-800-567-7075
and ask one of our operators to help you sign up.
All applications submitted electronically before noon on Friday
are processed on Monday, with invoices mailed on Tuesday. Remit
payment as directed on your invoice. Access to the “members only”
section of the ADCO web site and letters of ADCO membership in good
standing are issued only after your membership payment is received
and cleared by the bank. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery.
ADCO is dedicated to helping its members optimize their day-to-day
operations, enhance their financial performance and grow their centres.
Whether you deliver licensed child care services on a commercial or a
non-profit basis, joining ADCO is the smartest investment you can make.
Here are a just few of the exciting benefits of ADCO membership:
Liability & Commercial Insurance
Designed exclusively for licensed child care centres, the ADCO insurance
program offers unparalleled coverage, service and value. In fact, most
members say their insurance savings alone more than offset the cost of
their annual ADCO membership dues.
Group Benefits Insurance
Think you can't afford to offer your staff medical or dental benefits, or
disability and long term care insurance Think again. The ADCO plan offers
a flexible range of options designed to suit every need and budget.
Childcare Today Magazine
As part of your membership, you'll receive a subscription to Childcare
Today, the only quarterly business magazine exclusively for child care
owners and managers.
GOVERNMENT UPDATES & ADVOCACY TOOLS
When you’re involved in a regulated industry, it’s imperative that you
make advocacy part of your regular operating routine. ADCO works with
a professional government relations firm to monitor and report on the
activities of the government ministries, departments, agencies and
committees that most affect your program and your role as an employer.
ADCO centre members receive a monthly summary of these findings,
complete with advice about how you can take action.
Affordable Training For You & Your Team
ADCO conferences always offer sessions customized to meet the unique
needs of owners, supervisors and frontline staff; as well as opportunities
to meet leading suppliers to the industry, see their displays and learn
more about their products and services.
The Kids Helping Kids Walkathon
Every year, ADCO members from across the province mobilize their
communities in support of Ontario's four regional children's hospitals.
Together, ADCO centres have raised over a million dollars for this most
worthy cause.
Online Marketing Opportunities
Reach out to parents by being part of the ADCO child care directory. In
addition to your contact data, you can include photos and information
about your centre, or a link to your website. You can also use the online
job bank to advertise for new staff.
Professional & Social Networking
The "Members Only" section of the ADCO web site provides members with
a private discussion area, where you can share ideas, ask other members
for advice and participate in ADCO-exclusive online polls that help shape
the policies that govern the child care industry. Additionally, all ADCO
events include ample time for face-to-face networking, relationship
building and the exchange of expertise.
24 ChildcareTODAY • SUMMER/BACK TO SCHOOL 2011

YOUR ADCO 2011 SUPPLIER DIRECTORY
Accommodations
Great Wolf Lodge
905-353-5638
winger@ripleys.com
Architects
The Ideal Environment
416-363-7199
carol@theidealenvironment.com
Builders
JANCON Construction
416-255-6412
info@jancon.ca
Catering
Food For Tots
905-752-8115
info@fft.ca
Organic Kids Catering
905-276-1161
daycare@organickidscatering.com
Yummy Catering
1-866-34 –YUMMY
lcardoso@yummycatering.ca
cleaning & disinfection
Aquacharge Inc.
705-431-8151
rgskinner@rogers.com
Day Nurseries Act
Information
416-968-8273
ljourdain@tfo.org
www.childcarelearning.on.ca
Entertainment—Children’s
Philip & Henry Amazing
Magicians
1-888-257-7497
info@philipandhenry.com
Fundraising Products &
Campaign Consulting
Budding Artists
519-639-4588
info@buddingartists.ca
Fundtastic Fundraising
905-873-8033
responsible@fundtastic.ca
Lamontagne Fundraising
1- 800-567-3435
info@lamontagne.ca
World’s Finest Chocolate
1-800-461-195780
debbie@worldsfinest.ca
Furniture, Equipment &
Supplies
Avron School & Daycare
Supplies
1-800-997-9752
brfoss@rogers.com
Educational Kids Play
1-800-319-2137
info@educationalkidsplay.com
Flutterbys 2 Dragonflies
705-727-4840
flutterbys2dragonflies@
hotmail.com
Heather Child Care
Supplies
1-800-268-5661
heatherchildcare@rogers.com
Jonti-Craft
1-866-333-8020, ext. 206
leslie@manndate.com
NUNU Educational
1-866-552-4424
nunueducational@rogers.com
Quality Classrooms
1-888-517-8282
atodd@me.com
Scholars Choice
1-800-265-1095
jenbancroft@scholars.on.ca
Sonsuh Educational
Supplies
1-800-529-5085
rajeshsha@bellnet.ca
Spectrum Educational
Supplies
1-800-668-0600
fdasilva@spectrumed.com
Wintergreen
1-800-268-1268
carole@wintergreen.ca
WizKidz
1-866-369-4022
pyoon@wizkidz.ca
Insurance Brokers
CCV Insurance & Financial
Services
1-877-422-8467
adco@ccvinsurance.com
Labels
Lovable Labels
1-866-327-5683
trish@lovablelables.ca
Stuck On You
1-866-788-2566
stephanie@stuckonyou.biz
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Micro-Acces/SMART Office
1-800-463-5066
sales@thesmartsoftware.com
Focus Technologies
905-581-6150
info@bobshields.ca
Sandbox Daycare
Management Software
1-800-385-7930
jmorris@ladderinc.ca
Montessori Consulting/
Training
North American Montessori
Centre
1-877-531-6665
info@montessoritraining.net
Playground Equipment
Active Playground
Equipment
1-800-463-2361
sue@apeplayground.com
Little Tikes Commercial
905-849-9191
gibersonca@yahoo.ca
New World Park Solutions
519-304-3437
mike@newworldparksolutions.ca
Ontario Playgrounds
1-800-411-6311
sales@ontarioplaygrounds.com
Products By Blue Imp
1-877-630-0777
steve@blueimp.com
Playground Inspection &
Design
Active Recreation
1-888-682-6222
shelley@activerecreation.com
At Home & Play
Inspections
519-239-9220
athomeandplay@gmail.com
Playscape Inspection &
Consulting Services
416-691-5437
jzandarin@
playscapeinspection.com
Safeplay
416-402-4957
davidd@safeplay.ca
Programming Enhancements
— Art, Music, Dance
Dr. TouTou
1-866-376-4940
louis@drtoutou.com
The Centre for Art & Soul
416-565-3712
lisa@centreforartandsoul.com
Programming Enhancements
— literacy
Early Literacy Station
1-800-567-2815
robert.dougan@sympatico.ca
Summer Advantage
905-952-7970
mlewis1@sympatico.ca
STAFF TRAINING—FIRST AID
HeartSafe EMS Inc.
1-888-322-3791
gburke@heartsafe.ca
Temporary Staffing Agencies
Sentient HR Services
1-877-STAFF-72
info@sentienthr.com
Water Testing & Drinking
Water Information
Ministry of the
Environment
416-314-7637
pauline.raphael@ontario.ca
1-800-567-7075
www.adco-o.on.ca