For nearly a quarter-century, children arriving at Starting Blocks Daycare in Stonewall were often greeted by the same familiar smile, comforting voice and welcoming presence.
Next week on Wednesday, June 27, Bev will close a chapter that has defined much of her life as she retires after almost 23 years at Starting Blocks, ending a child-care career that has spanned more than four decades and touched the lives of thousands of children.
“It’s not been an easy decision when you have so much passion for what you do,” she said. “My whole life revolved around children. They have always brought me great joy, even through my hardest times.”
Her journey in child care began in the early 1980s when a friend told her about an opening at a daycare centre in Winnipeg.
At 19 years old, she already knew she enjoyed working with children. Years of babysitting and helping care for her younger brother and foster sister had given her valuable experience and confidence.
“I thought, why not apply?” she recalled.
The job quickly became more than just work.
“I loved working there,” she said.
After moving away, marrying and raising three children of her own, Bev operated a home daycare for six years. The arrangement allowed her to remain at home with her children following the loss of their father while continuing to earn an income.
In 1997, she remarried and moved to Stonewall.
Her connection with Starting Blocks began in January 2004 when she was hired to fill in for an employee on maternity leave.
“When she chose not to return, I stayed on,” Bev said. “I never imagined I would still be there almost 23 years later.”
During that time, she witnessed tremendous growth and change within the organization.
When she first arrived, Starting Blocks operated from a single location with approximately eight staff members and 60 children. The centre opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m., offering nursery school programs during the day and before- and after-school care.
Staff would walk school-age children to school regardless of the weather.
“Rain or shine, we walked them to school,” she said.
Today, Starting Blocks has expanded to four locations, employs approximately 50 staff members and serves children ranging from three months old to Grade 6. The organization also operates its own bus for transportation to schools and field trips.
One of the most challenging periods of Bev’s career came during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Starting Blocks reopened on April 14, 2020, following pandemic-related closures, only 16 children attended with four staff members on site.
“It was a very different time,” she said.
The centre has since experienced significant growth and now serves 224 children, a reflection of the increasing demand for child care in the community and the organization’s continued evolution over the years.
Along the way, Bev estimates she has cared for thousands of children.
Among them were six of her own grandchildren.
She has also shared her workplace with three of her daughters and now works alongside former nursery school students who have grown up and entered the child-care profession themselves.
“I have second generations of children that I’m caring for now,” she said.
One of the aspects she values most about the profession is the opportunity to make a lasting difference in children’s lives.
“It is so rewarding,” she said. “You’re able to nurture children and offer great learning experiences to them.”
She encourages anyone considering a career in child care to explore the field.
“If you enjoy children, are patient and communicate well, there are so many opportunities,” she said. “There are great support systems, workshops for staff and parents, and lots of avenues you can pursue.”
Over the years, Bev accumulated countless memories, many of them humorous.
One favourite involved a nursery school child who bluntly informed her and a co-worker that Bev’s hands and her colleague’s face looked “really old.”
The comment generated plenty of laughter and eventually inspired Christmas gifts of hand cream and lip balm for staff.
Another memorable prank involved convincing co-workers she had seriously injured her leg while practising a skit for the children.
After arriving at work on crutches and spinning a dramatic story about a trip to the emergency room, she eventually revealed the joke by tossing aside the crutches.
“I got them,” she said with a laugh.
While many memories are joyful, Bev also remembers the difficult moments.
Just months after she started, a fire swept through the daycare in October 2004, destroying its contents and forcing staff to rebuild from scratch.
She also recalls supporting families through illness, loss and tragedy, while relying on the strength of her co-workers and the wider community.
“Our community has supported us throughout the years,” she said.
That support included temporary locations following the fire, donations of toys and furniture, library programs, skating opportunities, upgraded parks, field trips to local businesses and volunteers who regularly visited the centre.
As retirement approaches, Bev hopes the children she cared for will remember how she made them feel.
“I hope they remember that I made them feel safe and seen,” she said. “That I comforted them when they were hurt or sad, listened to their stories, made them laugh and that they have fond memories of me.”
There are a few things she admits she will not miss.
Getting up at 4:50 a.m. every morning tops the list, along with driving through winter storms and completing incident reports.
Recently, she joked, she had written seven reports before noon.
Looking ahead, Bev plans to spend more time with family and friends, enjoy camping and reading, travel, volunteer and attend activities with her grandchildren.
Still, leaving behind a career she loved has been emotional.
When she announced her retirement, her co-workers were supportive, although not entirely surprised.
“They knew it was coming eventually,” she said.
As she prepares for her final day, gratitude remains at the forefront.
She thanked the staff members she has worked alongside through the years, the parents who trusted her with their children and the generations of young people who filled her days with stories, laughter and learning.
“You all taught me to laugh more, especially at the little things in life, to be more patient and to embrace the unexpected,” she said.
And for the thousands of children whose lives she touched, she leaves behind a simple farewell.
“Take care,” she said. “Teacher Bev will miss you most of all.”
