Executive Director's Report: Lesley Massey
"Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life." - Marcus Aurelius
As the year draws to a close, the air is filled with a spirit of giving and sharing. Our educators and children are busily preparing for the Holiday Luncheon at all our centers, extending invitations to valued community members and partners. They're crafting special gifts for loved ones, decorating, and embracing acts of kindness to spread genuine holiday joy throughout the season.
This truly is a time for holiday cheer—a magical period where communities come together to share a meal and create lasting memories. We know the children delight in the festive displays, the twinkling lights, and the many celebrations.
However, we also recognize that this season can bring unique challenges and stress for families trying to meet commercial demands. It's a perfect time to reflect on the true meaning of the holidays. Do we need to show our love through monetary things? Does happiness truly come wrapped in a sparkly bow?
I encourage everyone to be kind to one another. Let us take the time to give of ourselves and share our unique talents, for the best things in life aren't things at all.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." – Helen Keller
I wish you all good health and much happiness in the coming year. Peace and Love.
Lesley Massey
Executive Director
S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care Inc., Splash Child Enrichment Centre and Splash Faraday Satellite Centre, Splash Early Learning Centre, Splash Urban Learning Centre and Splash Mino Pimatisiwin Children's Centre.
The year kicked off with an outstanding PATH planning session, uniting all educators and the Board to establish a clear direction and achievable goals.
ULC successfully opened ULC was August 2024 becoming a wonderful addition to the Splash Community. In June we successfully filled all 31 spaces for our summer program, with it being the first full 8 week summer program for ULC.
The "I Love to Read" program was a huge success, filled with the joy of reading and support from local media, partners, community members, and politicians.
In March, the Management Team began drafting the summer curriculum, including the exciting Forest School program.
We successfully applied for several key grants and began planning for a major objective: the first-ever Splash Educator Conference at Fort Whyte.
Progress on the Balmoral project was underway, now proudly named Splash Mino Pimatisiwin Children’s Centre within the newly formed Pimicikamak Wellness Centre, designed to add 96 new child spaces.
Our participation in a job fair at RRC Polytech was successful, leading to new employee recruitment and a valuable connection for a future project.
We celebrated many personal milestones, including birthdays, anniversaries, new Canadians, cultural celebrations, and my own 30th anniversary with Splash!
We were successfully awarded several large grants, which we proudly celebrated at a reception hosted by the Winnipeg Foundation.
We secured 11 summer employees thanks to a Service Canada grant.
A significant grant from ELCC allowed all our sites to improve their surroundings, purchase new children's furniture, and help fund the inaugural conference.
ECE Celebrations Week in April, planned by the Management Team and generously budgeted by the Board, was an unforgettable success.zzses, and hosting major Pride Parades in both the North and South Ends.
The connection made at RRC Polytech resulted in filming at Splash Early Learning Centre for "The Science of Early Childhood Development," a testament to our commitment to Inclusion and Diversity. This footage will be a powerful educational tool for future educators.
We concluded June with a wonderful Forest School Orientation for all educators and new summer staff, which included an opening blessing and teachings from Elder Winston and hands-on training led by Forest School Practitioners at Bunn’s Creek.
The Splash Faraday School Satellite Site is underway with around 42 new spaces for school aged children and 5 new educators. We are awaiting the occupancy permit.
Following another excellent summer, we concluded the fiscal year in a strong position for a positive start to the next one.
The Hiring Committee is actively working with Staff Max to find the next Executive Director for Splash.
Board vacancies were quickly and successfully filled.
October was a month of celebrations and thankfulness, recognizing the many blessings we have received.
Some educators had the opportunity for professional growth by changing environments and neighborhoods while remaining within the organization.
November focused on licensing our new centre, purchasing necessary supplies, and site visits. The spaces at Splash Mino Pimatisiwin Children’s Centre are already full!
The immediate next step is hiring and setting up in December before the Open House.
The Board had a productive orientation, dinner, and networking event at the end of November, marked by a great exchange of ideas and camaraderie.
In December, all sites will celebrate the annual Holiday Luncheons with invited guests, and the Management Team will finally be honored with their own celebratory luncheon.
We are now organizing the PATH session for our January meeting to set the goals for 2026.
Here’s to another year of the good life at Splash!
Board members 2025
Chairperson: Jordan Lee L.C.
Vice Chairperson: Shawna Beach-Nelson L.C.
Treasurer: Martha Beach-Nelson LC
Secretary: Jessica Sinclair (Community Member NE)
Members at large:
April Sinclair CC
Jasmine Rivard LC
Jessica Abraham LC
Melissa Del Vecchio LC
Sean Carleton LC
Jane Johnston LC
Kaitlyn Gyles LC
Genevieve Benoit - (Community Member SE)
What is happening in December
Dec 11
EC Luncheron
Lunches will be provided
Dec 25
All centres will be closed for Christmas
Dec 18
CC Luncheron
Lunches will be provided
Dec 26
All centres will be closed for Boxing Day
Dec 24
Short Day
(all centres open
from 7:00 to 2:pp)
Dec 31
Short Day
(all centres open
from 7:00 to 2:pp)
CC Menu
EC Menu
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Food Reminder
We are a Nut Aware Centre (peanuts/all tree nuts) with consideration for children who have allergies in the environments. we discourage you from bringing in any snacks or food in lunches that have or are a may contain nut products.
Friendly Reminder that all Children are to bring wet bags and/or reusable bags for their belongs as we don't provite these for families. We are doing our best to keep our Centre eco and sustainable as possible. Our Centre is plastic bag free, If you are needing a copy of a Supply list please ask.
EC is no longer a fish-free centre.
CC will now be a fish-free centre.
As Summer hides away for the season we are asking families to bring the appropriate outdoor clothing.
See Parent Resources Tab for more Information: "How to Dress for the Weather Guide".
Sending the appropriate clothing daily ensures your child a safer, warm, successful day! If your child does not have the appropriate clothing we will be calling you to drop off belongings as we need to keep your child safe and protected from all weather.
Preschool and Infants environments are starting to get ready at 9:30 A.M. each day . We ask families to arrive on time, if you are running late please communicate that as our educators are planning the day and this can cause a disturbance for what they have planned.
Reconciliation is a journey for all Canadians.
Solidarity Statement 2025
“Splash Child Care Inc. acknowledges that the land on which we gather is stolen land, the original inhabitants driven off, forced to relocate. This is the reality of colonization. Covenants were formed, in the languages of the colonizers, called treaties, but these were amended and broken by the colonizers as desired. This land knows sorrow. But this land also knows joy and hope. Hope that the future will not be like the past. And so with humility and respect we commit ourselves to the continuing promise of reconciliation, the reclamation of dignity, the restoration of just relationships. We are all Treaty People.”