Wild Strawberry Children's Centre

In 1971 a group of parents from the community formed a play group for their children aged 2yrs to 5 yrs. They used space in a local church for three mornings a week. Program materials were mostly on a donation basis plus a small fee collected from the parents registered in the program. Teachers were provided on a volunteer basis – each parent taking a turn on a rotational basis. 

This play school operated successfully and within one year had expanded from three morning sessions with 12 children attending to three morning sessions and three afternoon sessions with 20 children attending each half day session. 

In 1972 the parents decided to become a legal entity. The parents had always operated co- operatively and so decided to form a co-operative organization and became known as West End Co-operative Nursery School Inc. The founding members are Margaret Black, Maxine Kemp and Adrianne Bride. 

This group of parents became highly active in the community and branched into such areas as a full time day care, lunch and after school programs and community resource. In the early 70’s this group was responsible for two nursery schools, two full time day care centres, three lunch& after school programs and a resource centre. Funding was received from the Government Dept of co-operative business. 

The mid 70’s arrived and by now the Provincial Government had become active in the field of child care and this group gradually eased out of the field. The purpose of serving the community had been accomplished and now the programs were assured continuation. 

Each of the individual entities operating under the name of the West End Co-operative Nursery School Inc. were encouraged to take its own name and to operate independently. 

The first day care formed by this group became The Place For Kids.
The second day care became Wild Honey Children’s Centre.
The first Nursery School became Wild Strawberry Children’s Centre Inc.
The second Nursery School retained the name West End Co-operative Nursery School Inc. 

Lunch and afternoon school programs continued to operate within the schools in the area. Eventually day care centres for school age children took over in this area. 

Wild Strawberry Children’s Centre continued to operate as a part time nursery school until 1980 when a growing need for another full time day care centre was identified for the area and it began full time operations on January 1st 1981. 

After one full year of operations Wild Strawberry was asked to vacate the premises in which it operated (church basement). The centre was fortunate and found a building in the immediate area. The building was purchased by the City of Winnipeg and renovated by the St.Matthew’s Community Improvement Project (federal funding) and was occupied by the centre in September 1982. 

In 1999 a further need for child care spaces was identified and investigations began to find a second location. Wild Strawberry had discovered a need for children under two years of age and found a location at 801D Sargent Avenue. This space was licensed for 4 infants and 22 pre-school children. The two locations are very close together and a decision was made to have the second centre become known as Wild Strawberry Toddler and Pre-school Centre. This centre would service children aged 18 months to age 4yrs. A child attending local Nursery schools would transfer to the 659 Alverstone St. address. 

In 2004 it was decided that Wild Strawberry needed to expand again. The pre-school program at 659 Alverstone St. was licensed for 10 school age children. As our pre-school children turned 6 more and more parents wished to stay with Wild Strawberry. 10 spaces were insufficient to meet the need. 

Wild Strawberry Children’s Centre then refurbished another unit of 801 Sargent Ave – unit C. 

The school age centre opened in September 2004. It was licensed for 30 school age children age 6 – 12years and 10 pre-school children aged 5 years. The first day opened with 27 children registered. 

All three programs continue to run successfully and maintain a very high registration. 

Within the last 10 – 15 years Wild Strawberry has added a program which allows for children with additional support needs. These programs run well within established programs for all three locations. 

At the end of December, 2009 Adrianne stepped down as director and remains at work assisting the new director through the transition. 

January 1, 2010 the 2nd director for Wild Strawberry began her term. Amrita Premdas began working for Wild Strawberry in April 1989 and served as a Centre supervisor, Assistant Director and Director II on January 1, 2010.