About Us

Our Purpose

Great Beginnings is a unique, non-profit organization in partnership with the community and the University of Windsor, offering flexible child care choices for families in Windsor/Essex County.

Our Vision

We are devoted to celebrating each child as a unique individual, and to creating learning environments that foster respect, acceptance and growth for all.

Our Mission

We provide opportunities for the play interests of children to direct the learning outcomes in our learning environments, under the facilitation of qualified educators and licensed home child care providers, and for that learning to be expressed through observation and documentation.

Our Philosophy

Great Beginnings is inspired by, and has chosen to emulate, the Reggio Emilia Philosophy of child care and early learning.  We do not intend to duplicate this philosophy, as we recognize the unique make-up of our community of children, families, educators and home child care providers, but stand by several of its principles.

Our Lead Team

D'Anne Mullin
Executive Director

Susan Borras
Child Care Center Supervisor

Steph Schnekenburger
Supervisor of Program & Policy/OEY

Donna Quinn
Home Child Care Coordinator/Visitor

What Do We Offer?

We offer three programs to serve you!

  • Licensed Child Care Center (6 weeks to 12 years)
  • Licensed Home Child Care Program (6 weeks to 12 years)
  • EarlyON Child & Family Centres (0 to 6 years)

Did You Know?

We have two locations to serve you!

Our Main California Site offering all three programs!
820 California Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3T3
Phone: 519-253-5235 • Fax: 519-253-5803

Our Satellite Bloomfield Site offering an EarlyON Child & Family Centre
3440 Bloomfield Road, Windsor, ON N9B 1R5
Phone: 519-256-1660 • Fax: 519-253-5803

Benefits to You!

Fee Assistance Available

Should you qualify, Fee Subsidy is available through the City of Winsor to assist you with your Child Care Center and Home Child Care fees. Click here to access the OneHSN link for more information about Fee Subsidy.

Flexible Child Care Options

We can accommodate flexible work schedules in both our Child Care Center and Home Child Care Program to meet your child care needs.

Post-Secondary School Support

Due to our partnership with the University of Windsor and its affiliate St Clair College, we reserve 75% of our enrollment for Students, Staff and Faculty.