2025 Highlights: A Year of Growth and Achievement

This year has been defined by visionary planning, remarkable expansion, and deep engagement with our community. Here are some of our key accomplishments:

📅 January – March: Setting the Course

• The year kicked off with an outstanding PATH planning session, uniting all educators and the Board to establish a clear direction and achievable goals.

• 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 R.R.C. 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!

💰 April – June: Investment and Education

• 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 E.L.C.C. allowed all our sites to improve their surroundings, purchase new children's furniture, and help fund the inaugural conference.

• E.C.E. Celebrations Week in April, planned by the Management Team and generously budgeted by the Board, was an unforgettable success.

• Our children were highly visible in the community, connecting with neighbors and local businesses, and hosting major Pride Parades in both the North and South Ends.

• The connection made at R.R.C. 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.

• In June the ULC, which opened in August of 2024, had successfully filled all 31 full time spaces. This was the first full 8 weeks of summer program enjoyed by the Urban Learning Centre. 

•  Splash Faraday Satellite Centre is underway with around 60 new spaces for school aged children and 6 new educators.. We are awaiting the occupancy permit.

🗓️ September – December: Transition and Future Planning

• The Splash Conference September 19,2025 at Fort Whyte Buffalo Crossing was guided by Deri Latimer on Mindfulness and Accountability, as all centres came together making it a huge success.

• Following another excellent summer, we concluded the fiscal year in a strong position for a positive start to the next one.

• The Search 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 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 Luncheon 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!