25 years later

Joanna Lindeman was one of the first children to attend the Schoolhouse Playcare Centre housed within St. James Public School in 1985. Today she works at the centre as an early childhood educator.

"In elementary school and high school, I always wanted to come back here and I wanted to see everybody and I really looked up to what they did," Lindeman said. "I know they made an impact on my life and I wanted to make an impact on other children’s lives like they did on mine."

Being one of the original children to attend the childcare centre, Lindeman will be attending Schoolhouse Playcare Centre’s 25^th anniversary celebration on Oct. 2.

"We wanted past parents and families to come celebrate with us to see how we’ve journeyed through the last 25 years and to have a day where we can all come together and go down memory lane to honour what we’ve done and also to laugh at great moments," said resource teacher Brenda Budge.

Budge, who has been working at Schoolhouse Playcare Centre since 1986, said the day care has seen many changes over the years.

It originally opened as a childcare centre exclusively for Lakehead Public Schools’ employees but after witnessing the growing need for childcare in Thunder Bay, they opened their doors to public.

For five years, the St. James centre was their only location. In 1990, they opened another day care in Drew Street School before it closed. In 2008, they opened another centre in St. Martin School.

And when first opened, Schoolhouse only took children ages three to five. Now they offer toddler care, preschool, kindergarten and after-school care. And this year they even introduced infant care.

"We learn together," said Budge. "Part of our philosophy is we really value children and look at them as being competent … look at Joanna and the wonderful person she’s turned out to be."

Throughout the years Budge has learned what you need for the job is a great sense of humour, a devotion to children and knowing that being an early childhood educator is more than just working with children, but also about helping children develop in their early years.

"The first six years of life is so important to children," she said. "That’s what we take great pride in."

The festivities on Oct. 2 begin at 1 p.m. with opening ceremonies and ends at 4 p.m. Pictures chronicling the past 25 years will be on display along with other memorabilia.

"It’s going to be a day of fun and reminiscing," Budge said.