Crystal is one of our long-time, talented and caring licensed home child care providers in the Crown Point neighbourhood of East Hamilton. She is a giver by nature and wants what’s best for children. In 2021, Crystal celebrated twenty years with Today’s Family, having provided licensed child care out of her home for over 200 children and families.

Crystal believes in children. She believes that messinesss promotes learning, and that laughter is essential to building happy children. Since the beginning of her adventure with Today’s Family, Crystal has always wanted her program to feel like home – an inviting and welcoming place for children to play and for families to share and connect. Families in the neighbourhood continue to remain in contact with each other and Crystal through online groups, where families are a part of a supportive circle, even after the doors close for the day.

As pandemic restrictions have continued to change and put pressure on families, Crystal has kept her doors open to those who need her most. She takes a great deal of diligence when it comes to keeping the children in her care safe. During COVID, Crystal has increased cleaning protocols, encouraged physical distancing, and performs regular well-being checks with families. She has demonstrated great leadership within the community, leadership that fosters belonging, caring, accountability and collaboration.

With Crystal’s partnership with Today’s Family, we have been able to increase the amount of licensed child care spaces within Hamilton, including in the lower East part of the city. Licensed home child care provides many unique opportunities to families, including offering flexibility for families, smaller groups that allow for more one-on-one care and relationship building, and are located within close proximity in neighbourhoods of families.

Her eagerness to continue doing what she loves has a continued impact on the well-being of children and their families.

This post is an excerpt from our 2021 Annual Report, Quilts of Care. You can read the entire report by visiting our new Neighbourhoods Mini Site by clicking here. You can also download a PDF version of the report by clicking here.