Territorial Acknowledgment

Together, we walk with care and share gratitude for the learning, playing, discovery, and growth of bright futures on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Chonnonton people.

We honour The Great Law of Peace as well as the languages, cultures, philosophies, practices, experiences, stories, songs, and teachings of Indigenous Nations. We are fortunate to share meaningful space with young minds who advocate and inspire strong connections to the land and each other.

At Emmanuel, we are committed to appropriately fostering a greater understanding of Indigenous cultural heritage as we:

Seek mentorship with Indigenous people, organizations, and communities;

Teach the historic truth and contributions of Indigenous Nations, past and present;

Continue to explore information from research;

Model authentic and reciprocal relationships with the land, plants, and beings; and

Experience Indigenous cultural heritage through guided practices, public engagements, and educational opportunities.

About Emmanuel

Head Office and Waterloo location: Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre- 65 Noecker St. Waterloo, ON

Baden location: Emmanuel at Sandhills Forest and Nature Early Learning- 3601 Sandhills Rd. Baden, ON

Building and doors 012.JPG

Emmanuel at Brighton

Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre was established in 1964 by members of the Emmanuel United Church in Waterloo and was originally known by Emmanuel Church Day Nursery. We currently have no religious affiliation.

In the beginning, Emmanuel was run by volunteers who welcomed children into the program with varying abilities focusing on the strengths of each child, enabling them to reach their potential. The volunteers eventually took courses in Early Childhood Education and expanded the enrollment. Several church members contributed to the success of Emmanuel over the years making furniture and toys, making quilts for each child to rest with, sitting on the Board of Directors, or helping in the kitchen.

Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre moved to our current location (the former Brighton Public School) in 2004. Penny Curtis was the Supervisor of Emmanuel for 33 years and retired in 2006. She valued the founders’ vision of meeting the growing needs of diverse families in our community.  We currently offer programs for children 18 months to five years of age and summer camp for children 4 to 10. In 2015, Emmanuel became a certified Forest and Nature School.

Emmanuel’s founders would be proud of the fact that Emmanuel continues to meet the needs of over 200 children and their families and have an extensive wait list of families waiting to be part of our program.   A dedicated team of more than 40 educators continue to empower each child to reach their potential in environments that allow children to explore and make discoveries using their natural sense of curiosity. 

Emmanuel continues to be filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing as they learn about the world around them and then resting under the warmth of a quilt made by church members more than 50 years ago.

Part of the community

Since 1964, Emmanuel at Brighton has been an integral part of the Uptown Waterloo community and we take full advantage of activities within our community. Outings include:

  • neighbourhood walks

  • visits to the neighbourhood creek to explore and discover nature and wildlife in our immediate area

  • regular visits to a forest location

  • visiting uptown businesses

Emmanuel at Sandhills

Emmanuel at Sandhills Forest and Nature Early Learning is set to open in the fall of 2025.

Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health and Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre announced that ownership of the school at 3601 Sandhills Rd, Baden would transfer to Emmanuel at Brighton as of October 1, 2024. Camino sold the property to Emmanuel, ensuring that the site remains in the hands of a non-profit organization committed to supporting children and families in the community. 

We are thrilled to be able to expand our high quality child care and Forest and Nature school programming and expect to open in the fall of 2025. We are aiming to open in September 2025, however based on the scope of required renovations, it could be October or November.

Our centres are both Forest and Nature School Canada programs licensed by the Ministry of Education. Our curriculum is graciously supported by Indigenous Elders, Youth Leaders, and professional development.