Marni Flaherty is not a typical hero of the preschool set. She doesn’t have a syndicated TV show or her own line of action figures. You won’t see her face on a pair of sneakers, or even a cereal box -- but if you’re the parent of a preschooler, you may well be reaping the rewards of her efforts. As CEO of Today’s Family Early Learning and Child Care, Flaherty works tirelessly to fulfill her vision for the children of Hamilton and Halton Region with all the ingenuity of Dora the Explorer, the determination of Thomas the Tank Engine and the compassion of an urbanite Fairy Godmother. 

Magic wand notwithstanding, Flaherty’s commitment to supporting young families has had a dramatic impact on the social fabric of the local community. Her efforts at the helm of Today’s Family, with the support of her dedicated team, have paved the way for a boon of child care resources, before-and-after school services, day camps, play opportunities and parenting workshops. At the core of her efforts is a desire to bring early childhood learning from the isolated environment of individual homes and into the light of day, where it can be celebrated and supported by the community at large. 

As with any job, parenting is easier when surrounded by others who understand the day-to-day challenges. That’s why in Flaherty’s ideal world, parents do not lie awake at night worrying about daycare or floundering with an ineffective network of social support. Instead, Flaherty yearns to bring back the caring, supportive neighborhoods that at least on an emotional level, are reminiscent of a time when people left their doors unlocked and kids ran around outside. 

“I have a desire to bring back a sense of community, an opportunity for young children, their parents and caregivers to be more connected,” says this wife and mother of three. “Kids need to be secure in their own neighborhoods, knowing there are groups in their communities who have their best interests at heart.” 

Efforts to build those groups have been remarkably successful, thanks to the unwavering dedication of staff and board members who share the vision of a healthy community. Today’s Family, which was once a small agency with a $500,000 budget and a skeletal staff, has blossomed into an organization that currently commands an $8.7 million budget and delivers an innovative array of programs to over 4,000 children and families each year. Support is also provided by an extensive network of private, municipal and provincial organizations, all working together to enrich the lives of local families. 

It takes a village to raise a child, according to the African proverb, but Flaherty’s experience has taught her that it also takes education and funding to raise the village. Fortunately, Mohawk College has been an essential part of her learning curve. 

“When I started my two-year Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma at Mohawk, I knew I needed something practical, at least at the start,” Flaherty explains. “I needed to focus on early childhood development and the milestones that kids go through, while developing the foundation that would give me a good background from which to move forward into an administrative career. My two years at Mohawk were great, and many of my colleagues are people I graduated with. Twenty-five years later, we’ve been able to take our vision at Mohawk and build it into a strong organization with a can-do attitude.” 

Following her graduation from Mohawk in 1982, Flaherty pursued courses at McMaster University and Sheridan College, along with a variety of professional training opportunities offered by neighbouring service organizations.  Her long list of career achievements in the years since graduation speaks to her dedication and passion for children – a calling that’s been evident since her high school days, when she’d stop to chat with youngsters she passed on the sidewalk. 

Some of Flaherty’s proudest achievements at Today’s Family include the expansion of Family Day Care into Burlington, the development of an immensely popular Mobile Toy Lending Program, a nanny referral service, caregiver accreditation programs and the growth of licensed, in-home child care. Under her leadership, the organization has also launched a Supervised Visitation and Exchange Program, delivered Adventure Day Camps in neighbouring parks and conservation areas, and led the local administration of successful provincial efforts such as the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program and the Ontario Early Years Centres at numerous locations across the region. 

“Every year, I was involved in the development of another service in our community,” explains Flaherty. “Today’s Family started with licensed home child care programs, but it was cool to see where we could take it from there. Even back then, we had ideas of supporting families differently.” 

The innovative nature of Flaherty’s approach is evident in the wide variety of programs that fall under the service umbrella of Today’s Family. A recent achievement of which the team is especially proud is the opening of the Waterdown Early Years Centre in a wonderfully preserved Victorian home just outside of Hamilton. Here, among the block towers, craft stations, and tea parties, a variety of services have flourished into one seamless system designed to meet the needs of families on what feels like their home turf. Nurses, nutritionists, speech pathologists and the like are available for on-site screening and consultation, saving parents the time and stress of trekking back and forth across town; in cases where potential problems are identified, support services are available and immediate. Enrichment opportunities abound as children interact and create alongside visiting artists. Unlike a traditional preschool environment, the learning here is not structured and rushed but unfolds naturally at the child’s own pace. Kids are invited to make sense of the world in their own way while building a sense of themselves within the world. 

“The families love it – they feel that it’s their own,” she says with a smile. 

For Flaherty, the next logical step is to grow this successful microcosm into the greater community, starting with the school system. She currently has her sights set on connecting child care programs with neighbouring schools, in an effort to smooth the transition from early learning into Junior and Senior Kindergarten. Her plans are taking root in the form of a community vegetable garden, cultivated just steps from the Hamilton Children’s Centre. The chance to sow, weed and reap with the help of the surrounding school community has shown enormous potential for bringing both young families and seniors together with school-aged kids, giving everyone involved the chance to feel validated. Here, mentoring relationships grow along with the seedlings. 

“As early childhood educators, it’s time for us to start thinking differently. When we incorporate youth into our program, we’re giving them the chance to be role models and inviting them to feel connected by doing something meaningful with the children. They may be gardening, playing basketball, or music – it’s whatever gets them engaged.” 

As new programs take shape, so does a broader vision for building even more vibrant communities. 

“I can feel myself starting to push these programs differently,” Flaherty says. “When I look at the big picture, I want our child care centres to be welcoming to the neighborhood, even just a few mornings a week. I want families to feel welcome to come in and spend the morning with us because the facilities are already here. If we are successful, we have the opportunity to increase the supports in our neighborhood and make the day richer for both child care workers and parents. The educators have a chance to share their skills and develop them in a different way by responding to parents, and the feedback they receive helps to ensure that our programs are universal, meeting the needs of the various families involved.” 

In February of this year, Flaherty received the highest provincial honour and was recognized with an Ontario Premier’s Award for College Graduates in the Community Services category, in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of children and families 

Her extensive list of accolades honouring her ongoing contributions as a community leader include a Week of the Child - Children’s Service Award in 2000, and three years later, the United Way Chair of the Board of Directors Award. Flaherty addressed graduates of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Human Services at Mohawk’s Convocation ceremonies in 2004 and was awarded the Children’s Service Pin Award by the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario. In 2005, Flaherty was also a proud recipient of Mohawk’s Alumni of Distinction Award. 

As of this spring, Today’s Family was also a not-for-profit finalist for the Outstanding Business Achievement Award bestowed by the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. For Flaherty, this distinction is especially meaningful because it gave Today’s Family the chance to be nominated as an organization. 

“For us, it’s a chance to be recognized as a significant employer and a player in the community,” she reflects. “It’s about being known not just as a charity, but as a solid, responsible organization, and that kind of recognition feels good.” 

Today’s Family is enjoying, alongside local children, the chance to feel honored, connected, and a celebrated part of the community. And as Flaherty can tell you, that’s what building good neighborhoods is all about. 

By: Kate Schooley 

This story was originally published in Spring 2007 in the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.