About WITDA

In 1984, a group of concerned parents were looking for infant and toddler care and could not find any in Waterloo Region. They were dedicated to finding quality care for their children, so they decided to take matters into their own hands and establish a daycare that would specifically meet the needs of infants and toddlers.

One of the co-founders was Jane Mitchell, who connected with Gloria Simmons, an ECE teacher. Together, Jane and Gloria began the work of bringing Waterloo Infant Toddler Daycare Association to life.

In July 1986, a property at 368 Erb Street West became available. Gloria and her husband, Keith, sold their own home and moved into the house on Erb Street. They did this so they could provide the down payment needed to purchase the property, as the bank would not lend the money to the Daycare Association.

Construction of the new centre began at the back of the property. Several families helped WITDA get started, including Jane Mitchell’s mother, who loaned money to the Association to help build the new centre.

While the centre was being built, WITDA began caring for a few children in Gloria and Keith’s home. After a few months, they moved to St. John’s Lutheran Church for five months and then moved again to Waterloo Pentecostal Church while construction continued.

Finally, at the end of March 1987, construction was complete. In April 1987, WITDA moved into its new centre at 368 Erb Street West and began accepting more children.

The centre was originally licensed for 10 infants, 10 toddlers and 16 preschoolers, for a total of 36 children.

Gloria was WITDA’s first Supervisor and remained in that role from the beginning of the centre until September 1990. Audrey Pagett then became Supervisor and remained in the position until February 1992. In March 1992, Bonnie Aultman took over as Supervisor.

During Bonnie’s long career with WITDA, the centre continued to grow and develop. Enrolment increased from 36 children to 96 children, and WITDA built a strong reputation for quality childcare in Waterloo Region.

From 1992 onward, WITDA went through many physical and program changes as we worked to meet the changing needs within the Region of Waterloo and families.

In 1994, we expanded to the house at the front of the property and added kindergarten programming. Within two years, school-age programming was added to the upper floor, and the Clubhouse was officially created.

In 2003, WITDA once again took on a major adventure. We moved off the property so that a new centre could be built. In June 2003, First Baptist Church graciously welcomed us into their space for a year and a half while our new centre was being constructed.

In December 2004, we moved back into our new building. At that time, WITDA offered one infant program, one toddler program, two preschool programs, one kindergarten program, one school-age program and a new half-day nursery school program. We had a total of 105 licensed spaces and 22 staff.

In 2013, with the introduction of full-day kindergarten, WITDA once again had to rethink how we could continue to meet the needs of young children and their families. July 2013 was the last time we were able to offer kindergarten and school-age programming.

We renovated the lower floor and introduced part-time toddler and preschool programs. These programs were very successful and allowed WITDA to continue growing, eventually increasing our staffing to 24 full- and part-time educators and staff.

In 2016, WITDA began another new adventure by offering a summer camp for JK and SK children. In April of that year, St. John’s Nursery School allowed us to use their licensed space to offer a summer camp experience for younger age children.  This relationship has been a great partnership as two organizations share common space for families in Waterloo Region. The summer camp program continues to be an important part of WITDA and has grown over the years to provide summer care for over 200 children in an 8-week period.  

In 2017, WITDA was given another exciting opportunity—to open a preschool program at Kitchener Waterloo Bilingual School. We were thrilled to be offered the opportunity to provide a bilingual preschool program.

After 10 months of planning and preparation, we opened our first bilingual preschool program in September 2018, welcoming 16 children. The program is offered in both English and French, giving children the opportunity to experience the French language at an early age. Many of these children have gone on to continue their bilingual education at Kitchener Waterloo Bilingual School.

In 2022, WITDA took another major step forward when we purchased the property right beside our existing site. We are very grateful to Amy, Appleby and Brennan Law Firm, who graciously sold WITDA the property, allowing us to expand and create our very own childcare campus.

After extensive renovations to the new building and some renovations to our original building, we opened the doors to WITDA Building 2 in January 2024.

Today, WITDA is a multi-site organization with four locations:

WITDA Building 1 has two Infant, two Toddler and three Preschool programs.

WITDA Building 2 has one Toddler and three Preschool programs.

WITDA KWBS has one Preschool program.

WITDA St. John’s Summer Camp offers one Older Preschool program and two JK, SK and Grade 1 programs.

Together, these programs provide care for more than 236 children each year and are supported by 52 wonderful full-time staff.

When we look back over the past 40 years, it is amazing to see how far WITDA has come. What began in 1984 with a small group of parents who simply wanted to find quality care for their children has grown into an organization serving hundreds of children and families throughout Waterloo Region.

WITDA has built a strong reputation for the quality care we provide and for the relationships we have built with children, families, staff and our community.

But WITDA is more than buildings, programs and numbers. WITDA is the people who have walked through our doors over the past 40 years.

We are incredibly proud of every employee who has been part of WITDA history. Each person has brought something special and unique to our organization. Together, they have helped shape WITDA into the wonderful place it is today—a place where people care deeply about children, families and each other, a place where staff can grow and contribute, and a place where families feel confident bringing their precious children. WITDA is truly the next best place to home.

From a small group of determined parents in 1984 to the WITDA we know today, this has truly been an incredible journey.