- 807-467-5225
- info@kacl.ca
The Kenora Association for Community Living’s (KACL) Kids’ Zone programs provide inclusive childcare and early learning programs that welcome all children from infancy to school-age. Kids’ Zone employees foster a caring and rich early-learning environment in which each child’s uniqueness and development are nurtured and supported.
KACL’s Kids’ Zone location (Lakeside) opened in 1997, with the second Kids’ Zone space (Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeouys- SMB) opening in 2007. The third Kids’ Zone space (St. John Paul II School- SJP) opened in 2017. Each Kids’ Zone location is licensed by the Ministry of Education as a certified childcare space and locations are staffed by both qualified Registered Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Educators. Kids’ Zone centres are also eligible to accept children whose families qualify for subsidy through the Kenora District Services Board.
Kids’ Zone programs provide childcare to families with children ranging from infant to school-age. Kids’ Zone Lakeside began offering care for infants up to 18 months in 2009. All three of our locations have a toddler room, which assists children’s development during this stepping-stone stage of growth and development. Preschool is offered at each location for children aged 2.5 to 4 years. In Preschool, children have opportunities to build the essential skills to be successful in school while engaging in meaningful, inquiry-based learning engagements.
School-age care is available after school and for school holidays (this means Christmas/Summer/March break/PD days) at SMB and SJP. Children explore engaging in both indoor and outdoor activities in a welcoming and exploratory environment. In late 2021 Kids’ Zone Lakeside opened a new Family-Age Group room to offer families a new experience in a mixed age group setting.
All of the Kids’ Zone’s programs work within an emergent curriculum format that prepares children for a successful transition to school. Kids’ Zone employees believe that play is one of the most important tools through which children learn. Play is vital in supporting children to interact with other people in a meaningful way, to feel safe, to be themselves, and to take steps toward becoming healthy, complete people. Children need to know that they are important, that they are listened to, and that they are cared for by others in their sphere. If children live with these messages, they will have the tools to better relate to others and to be responsible people who care for others. We have been focusing on becoming a Reggio-inspired program, where each child is viewed as an individual. They are capable, competent human beings with great capacity and creativity. The child isn’t someone to be shaped and formed but rather an individual who already has their own unique personality and abilities, who’s on a journey toward making their place in the world.
Located in Lakeside, a standalone centre that operates out of the Kids’ Zone Building.
Hours of operation:
7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Phone: (807) 467-5235
Located in Ste. Marguerite Bourgeouys School
Hours of operation:
7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Phone: (807) 467-5243
Located in St. John Paul II School
Hour of operation:
7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Phone: (807) 467-8914, ext. 4
After School Programs are located at SMB and SJP schools.
Hours of operation: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Kids’ Zone also offers school-aged summer programs at one or more of the school locations, depending on availability and enrolment.
For information about the after school and summer programs, please contact the SMB or SJP Kids’ Zone centres.
Each of the programs below are available at one or more of the locations noted above.
Kids’ Zone has a committal pre-payment system. Families will be billed upon entry into the program, and billed at the beginning of each month thereafter.
*Full Day programs for school aged children includes: PD days, Christmas break, March break, and summer care.
A meaningful and satisfying life for all
To welcome each person’s gifts and individuality through meaningful relationships in resilient, connected communities where we all belong.
On behalf of the Board and Employees of KACL, the Board of Directors and Employees of KACL gratefully acknowledge that we live, work, enjoy the richness of and play on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people of Treaty 3, and on the homeland of the Metis. We pay our respect to the First Nations and Metis ancestors of this place and reaffirm that the historic and current relationship that exists between us is defined by Treaty.
We commit to work to create the conditions for belonging and social justice so that each person can live fully in the unique identity that matters to them, in a community that accepts and welcomes. We recognize that our work must be in the service of Reconciliation. Our work must be at the level of the individual and the community, so that our collective identity as a community lives up to the values we want for ourselves and our children. A community where equity, peace, and respect for cultural differences are respected and nourished; and a community that acknowledges that the early Anisahinaabe people of these lands saw we were strangers, welcomed us as guests, and invited us to stay as neighbours.