History

A local resident named Safia Barr, started the first Kinder Kampus British Columbia pilot site in Richmond in September 1995 for eight children, and moved the centre to Maple Ridge in July 1996.  The Maple Ridge centre operated successfully at full licensed capacity for six years until July 2002, when Safia and her family moved to Port Moody.

In late 1999 after a public tender, Kinder Kampus was selected by the City of Port Moody to operate a childcare centre in the newly constructed Old Orchard Hall.  After completing the necessary improvements to the hall, Kinder Kampus in British Columbia first opened in January 2000 with a licensed capacity of 25 spaces, and has operated as a successful and very popular childcare service since that time. 

Port Moody again selected Kinder Kampus again in a 2002 tender to operate the childcare centre for 25 children at the new Heritage Mountain Community Hall in the Heritage Woods neighbourhood. 

In 2003, as the first class of children ‘graduated’ from the program at Old Orchard Hall, parents requested that Kinder Kampus offer service in the post kindergarten age group, so Kinder Kampus leased a classroom at Pleasantside Elementary school to provide out of school care (and preschool services in mid-day), and these programs continue today.

In a similar scenario, parents in the Heritage Woods neighbourhood, contacted Kinder Kampus and school officials at Aspenwood Elementary requesting a before/after school program.  Starting in September 2005, Kinder Kampus leased space at Aspenwood Elementary to provide before/after school care program with a licensed capacity of 45.

A good reputation led the Burquest Jewish Community Association to contact Kinder Kampus in September 2005 to operate a childcare centre in their community centre on Dewdney Trunk Rd. in Coquitlam. Kinder Kampus started to operate an infant-toddler facility at this location in January 2006.

Kinder Kampus is proud to have been among the final three finalists for the 2005 Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award.

In addition to the five centres in Port Moody/Coquitlam, there are also three Kinder Kampus children’s centres currently operating in the Toronto area – managed by Safia’s aunt.