Staff
Sonya Seward RECE- Executive Director - All locations
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre And Elgin Nursery School
Graduated from St. Lawrence College Early Childhood Education Program 2008. I am a mother of 3 beautiful girls. I have always been passionate about the well-being of others and have always known I wanted to be in the education field even as a young child. I remember as a child wanting to be a mother so badly and looking after children even those older than me, being a caregiver/educator is in my DNA. I have worked in the early childhood field for 15+ years and before graduating completed high school coop in child care centres. I have always dreamed of becoming a director someday and through hard work, dedication and determination, July 2020 that dream become a reality. I’ve spent many years of being an Early Childhood Educator, then RECE supervisor. I have been fortunate to have great mentors, role models and employers along the way that have shaped me into the educator I am today. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for me in the years to come.
[email protected]
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre And Elgin Nursery School
Graduated from St. Lawrence College Early Childhood Education Program 2008. I am a mother of 3 beautiful girls. I have always been passionate about the well-being of others and have always known I wanted to be in the education field even as a young child. I remember as a child wanting to be a mother so badly and looking after children even those older than me, being a caregiver/educator is in my DNA. I have worked in the early childhood field for 15+ years and before graduating completed high school coop in child care centres. I have always dreamed of becoming a director someday and through hard work, dedication and determination, July 2020 that dream become a reality. I’ve spent many years of being an Early Childhood Educator, then RECE supervisor. I have been fortunate to have great mentors, role models and employers along the way that have shaped me into the educator I am today. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for me in the years to come.
[email protected]
Shannon McCarthy- RECE Supervisor - 77 Main St. Elgin
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
My name is Shannon McCarthy and I graduated from Algonquin College Early Childhood Education Program August 2020. I am a mother of two amazing children, both teenagers that keep me busy with their extra curricular activities. I worked at the same childcare centre for 10+ years that I was deeply passionate about taking over, but with the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19 this option was no longer an option. I have been in the childcare field for 16+ years. In July 2020 I started working at Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre as the Supervisor. Prior to graduating from the Early Childhood Education online program, I also graduated the Office Administration Program in 2011. It has always been a passion of mine to own and operate my own childcare centre.
[email protected]
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
My name is Shannon McCarthy and I graduated from Algonquin College Early Childhood Education Program August 2020. I am a mother of two amazing children, both teenagers that keep me busy with their extra curricular activities. I worked at the same childcare centre for 10+ years that I was deeply passionate about taking over, but with the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19 this option was no longer an option. I have been in the childcare field for 16+ years. In July 2020 I started working at Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre as the Supervisor. Prior to graduating from the Early Childhood Education online program, I also graduated the Office Administration Program in 2011. It has always been a passion of mine to own and operate my own childcare centre.
[email protected]
Shauna Moore- RECE-Supervisor-29 Main St
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
My name is Shauna Moore I am a RECE that graduated from St. Lawrence College in 2007. I have had the privilege to work with all ages from infant to school age. I was at another childcare centre for 13 years and switched to Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre in Early July of 2020. My hobbies are reading and going on long drives to find new places and things to do. I also love to spend time with my family and friends.
[email protected]
Ashley Craig- RECE
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
Hello, my name is Ashley Craig and I am 24 years old. I recently joined the RLELC team and am so excited to be working full time in a job that I love. I have always had a passion for working with children but never pursued that passion until recently, I grew up surrounded by children, my mother has 12 brothers and sisters and growing up I was surrounded by cousins and other family. I have always loved children and am very interested in watching how they interact with one another. I have babysat since the age of 12 and thoroughly enjoy watching children learn and grow. I love to read and horseback ride in my spare time, as well as spend time with my niece and nephew.
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
Hello, my name is Ashley Craig and I am 24 years old. I recently joined the RLELC team and am so excited to be working full time in a job that I love. I have always had a passion for working with children but never pursued that passion until recently, I grew up surrounded by children, my mother has 12 brothers and sisters and growing up I was surrounded by cousins and other family. I have always loved children and am very interested in watching how they interact with one another. I have babysat since the age of 12 and thoroughly enjoy watching children learn and grow. I love to read and horseback ride in my spare time, as well as spend time with my niece and nephew.
Olivia Williams-Educator
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
Hi, I’m Olivia but often go by liv. I am a very outgoing individual who will talk to anyone. You can find me spending time with friends and family or majority of my free time outside. Whether it be hiking, going snowmobiling, boating etc. I enjoy it all! I was working as a Recreation Aide for the past three and half years with seniors, until March 2021 when I got hired at Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre. When I was in high school, I did a placement in a kindergarten classroom and absolutely loved it. Children have always been a passion of mine and I have always enjoyed watching children grow. I Hope that some of my recreation knowledge and abilities will help me implement curriculums for all children’s needs through, physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive domains. It takes a big heart to shape little minds!!
I have also started my Early Childhood Education course and I can't wait to gain more knowledge and understanding of children!
Kim Day - Educator
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
I am a mother of three children who are adults now. I have three beautiful granddaughters that I am so excited to share my spare time with. I have always been passionate about how children learn and grow. I joined the Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre team in September and am looking forward to my future here. I have worked with in the childcare sector for over 10 years, working with children ranging from all ages from infant to preschool. I am very passionate about the development of children and am working towards becoming a registered Early Childhood Educator.
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre
I am a mother of three children who are adults now. I have three beautiful granddaughters that I am so excited to share my spare time with. I have always been passionate about how children learn and grow. I joined the Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre team in September and am looking forward to my future here. I have worked with in the childcare sector for over 10 years, working with children ranging from all ages from infant to preschool. I am very passionate about the development of children and am working towards becoming a registered Early Childhood Educator.
Debby Kok- RECE
Elgin Nursery School
An RECE graduate from Algonquin College.
I have been working in the field of ECE for almost 40 years. I am a very proud Mom of 3 grown children. I have been working here at Elgin Nursery School for 4 years. Teaching Preschool has been a passion of mine since I was in my early 20’s. Working with children has been my life work & I have truly been blessed to have taught & loved so many little ones! I have been nominated teacher of the year 2 times & it gives me so much joy to be able to continue to work with families & their children.
Elgin Nursery School
An RECE graduate from Algonquin College.
I have been working in the field of ECE for almost 40 years. I am a very proud Mom of 3 grown children. I have been working here at Elgin Nursery School for 4 years. Teaching Preschool has been a passion of mine since I was in my early 20’s. Working with children has been my life work & I have truly been blessed to have taught & loved so many little ones! I have been nominated teacher of the year 2 times & it gives me so much joy to be able to continue to work with families & their children.
Megan Buckland
B&A Educator South Crosby Public School
Megan Buckland comes from a background of therapeutic recreation and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), graduating with a bachelor's of therapeutic recreation from the University of Lethbridge in 2020. She has spent the last five years working with seniors providing life enrichment programs. Megan is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and improving quality of life through the use of recreation and leisure interventions. Recently joining the Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre team, Megan is looking forward to incorporating her background in therapeutic recreation to provide enriching programming to her students.
Although her son keeps her quite busy, Megan values her leisure time and enjoys spending time with family, gardening, walking, relaxing with a tea, and a good book.
B&A Educator South Crosby Public School
Megan Buckland comes from a background of therapeutic recreation and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), graduating with a bachelor's of therapeutic recreation from the University of Lethbridge in 2020. She has spent the last five years working with seniors providing life enrichment programs. Megan is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and improving quality of life through the use of recreation and leisure interventions. Recently joining the Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre team, Megan is looking forward to incorporating her background in therapeutic recreation to provide enriching programming to her students.
Although her son keeps her quite busy, Megan values her leisure time and enjoys spending time with family, gardening, walking, relaxing with a tea, and a good book.
Samantha Baxter
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre Cook
Samantha Baxter joined the RLELC team August 1, 2022 as the cook and is excited to join the team, because she is able to work with the children and do what she loves to do is prepare creations with food for the children. Samantha is a mom of three boys who are very busy with work and school. Samantha has been working in the food industry for many years in different establishments. She graduated from Police Foundations in 2013, and drove a bus for a few years and really enjoyed working with the children.
Rideau Lakes Early Learning Centre Cook
Samantha Baxter joined the RLELC team August 1, 2022 as the cook and is excited to join the team, because she is able to work with the children and do what she loves to do is prepare creations with food for the children. Samantha is a mom of three boys who are very busy with work and school. Samantha has been working in the food industry for many years in different establishments. She graduated from Police Foundations in 2013, and drove a bus for a few years and really enjoyed working with the children.
Lori Anne Proctor
Educator
Lori joined the RLELC team December 2022 as a supply teacher and because a full-time educator in January 2023. Lori is a mom of 4, step mother of 3 and gandmother of 6. She has worked with children for over 25 years of all ages. Lori has her Educational Asssitant Diploma and Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Assitant. Lori grew up pm a beef farm and was a 4-H Leader for 14 years.
Educator
Lori joined the RLELC team December 2022 as a supply teacher and because a full-time educator in January 2023. Lori is a mom of 4, step mother of 3 and gandmother of 6. She has worked with children for over 25 years of all ages. Lori has her Educational Asssitant Diploma and Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Assitant. Lori grew up pm a beef farm and was a 4-H Leader for 14 years.