Press & Awards

  • Kids & Company Receives Endorsement from Eco-Healthy Child Care®

    • Toronto, Ontario – February 28, 2024 – Kids & Company announced today that it has received endorsement from Eco-Healthy Child Care®. Eco-Healthy Child Care® (EHCC) is a national program that partners with child care professionals to eliminate environmental hazards in early learning settings with the goal of protecting the health of children and staff. 

      “As we become more aware of the environmental challenges that our planet faces and our role as stewards of that environment, we want to ensure that our child care centers are prime spaces for environmentally-conscious action, where we uphold our commitment to implementing the highest standards of safety.” says Kids & Company CEO and co-founder, Victoria Sopik. “Our dedication to eco-friendly practices and being good eco-citizens is not only about protecting the environment but also about safeguarding our health.” 

      With these values in mind, Kids & Company proudly announced that over 95% of their child care centers across North America, have received endorsements from Eco-Healthy Child Care, due to the environmental health best practices that they follow. The staff has worked to ensure that the centers benefit the well-being of young children by complying with environmental health guidelines developed by the EHCC. The guidelines include: 

      • Avoiding fragranced products.
      • Choosing 3rd party-certified green cleaning products (e.g., Ecologo, Green Seal, or EPA’s Safer Choice).
      • Maintaining adequate ventilation, especially during cooking, cleaning, and art activities, AND ventilating by using screened windows and doors or a mechanical ventilation system.
      • Testing water for lead contamination.
      • Using least-toxic pest prevention practices including blocking pest entryways and eliminating food and water sources. 
      • Selecting fragrance-free art supplies approved by the Arts and Creative Materials Institute “AP” label. 

      By following the important health and safety guidelines promoted by the Eco-Healthy Child Care® program, changes made in the child care space operated by Kids & Company immediately benefit the well-being of young children and staff. Learn more here: www.cehn.org/ehcc.

  • The cool way TIFF has been helping working parents

    • Toronto, ON (August 30, 2022) – Now here’s something worthy of a gala—the film industry is finally recognizing the need for childcare.

      Earlier this week, you probably noticed the buzz around the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) beginning to flood your feed. After a two-year in-person hiatus, participants are understandably pumped for this year’s festival, which runs from September 8 to 18th and will bring in some of Hollywood’s biggest stars (Hello, Viola Davis and Eddie Redmayne!). But for many parents, getting excited about an event that requires getting a babysitter can be tough.

      In an effort to make the festival more accessible to industry parents (who arguably are even more stressed out because attending the festival is part of their job), Canadian childcare provider Kids & Company has partnered with TIFF to offer subsidized childcare during the daily happenings of the festival.

      “Not everyone works nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday.” says Linda Starr from Kids & Company, “that’s especially true during the 11-day film festival, which can feel like a marathon for anyone, let alone working parents with young children in tow.”

       

      This year, industry parents of kids aged six and under can take advantage of 15 different Kids & Company locations across the city which will provide $40 a day childcare between September 8th and 16th (including the weekend). Hours run from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and include special TIFF-inspired curriculum “to inspire and teach kids about the language and magic of film” (though I’m guessing many of these kids are already mini industry experts.)

      While the program was piloted last time the festival ran in person in 2019, its return signals a movement in the industry toward supporting parents (and, let’s face it, women) working in film. “A childcare strategy is about dropping barriers for industry parents with young families,” says TIFF director of industry Geoff Macnaughton. For parents hoping to partake in TIFF’s evening events (because, real talk, the festival is nothing without the glitzy star-studded galas), Kids & Co. partnered with Imagine That, a service offering 24/7 care in-home (or in-hotel) for the duration of the festival. These care providers come prepared with fun, age-appropriate activities and will even take kids on outings—if you plan ahead.

      Even better news is that since TIFF piloted the program in 2019, other festivals have begun to follow suit. At the Festival de Cannes, La Ballon Rouge offers a daycare centre, baby lounge and accessible activities for nannies and kids at the festival and market. Similarly, the Venice and San Sebastián International film festivals have initiated their own childcare programs for industry. In a similar vein, Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, UK opened their first dedicated on-site nursery in 2020, open to staff and productions shooting at the studio. It may be slow for an industry that seems to be booming, but at least it’s progress, right?

  • Kids & Company Launches Canada’s First Child Care Facility for Women Recovering From Addiction With Edgewood Treatment Centre

    • Nanaimo, BC—October 13, 2021–Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care in Canada, has launched the first child care partnership for women engaging in recovery at EHN Canada’s Edgewood Treatment Centre, a mental health and addiction treatment facility in Nanaimo, B.C. The pilot program between Kids & Company and Edgewood Treatment Centre began in early March 2021 and will run for the next 10 years minimum.

      The partnership consists of Kids & Company having on-site child care available for the women who are undergoing inpatient treatment at Edgewood Treatment Centre. The Moms and Kids Treatment Program is designed to foster healthy relationships between mothers and their children while they commence their healing journey by creating a safe and supportive environment for both children and mothers to thrive. There are three spaces available at any given time in the program. Mothers and their children cohabitate, with supportive supervision, that allow for mother-child bonding and learning of new parenting strategies and techniques. The childcare support allows women the time to focus on their healing, while their children receive excellent care throughout the day.

      “Kids & Company is honoured to create a program with Edgewood Treatment Centre that will help women heal while ensuring their children are safe and nearby,” Kids & Company CEO and founder Victoria Sopik said. “As a mother of eight children, I know that it takes a village. I am thrilled to be able to be that village to the women at Edgewood who are caring for themselves so that they can be better moms.”

      Clinical studies show that the model of having mothers and children reside together during treatment increases the mother’s stay in treatment and reduces her depression levels and increases her self-esteem. Women who reside with their children during treatment are five times more likely to receive custody of their children by the end of treatment.

      “Neither motherhood nor addiction treatment are easy — and these women are doing both. Our partnership with Kids & Company allows us to make these two challenges more manageable,” said Dr. Christina Basedow, Edgewood’s Executive Director. “We believe that incorporating child care, parenting strategies, and new family systems skills into these women’s healing journey will allow them and their families to thrive once they complete their treatment at Edgewood.”

      Open House: Monday, October 18, 2021

      Due to Covid-19, we are hosting an outdoors open house format.

      • Open House Monday, October 18, 2021 with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and remarks from Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog beginning at 1:00pm
      • Program overview and brief information on Edgewood treatment process and Edgewood X Kids & Company Partnership
      • Program Q&A

      If you are interested in attending the ribbon cutting or open house, please email bonnie.bartlett@edgewood.ca

      About Kids & Company

      Kids & Company, a proudly Canadian company, works directly with family-oriented corporations to develop progressive child care options that help address employees’ work-life balance and productivity. By partnering with Kids & Company, top-tier companies from a variety of industry sectors are able to add child-care assistance, including guaranteed full-time, part-time and emergency back-up care, and elder care to their suite of employee benefits. For more information, visit www.kidsandcompany.com.

      About EHN Canada

      EHN Canada is the nation’s largest private network of industry-leading mental health, trauma, and addiction treatment facilities, each with a passion for providing quality treatment for Canadians. We are committed to both caring for our patients and supporting their loved ones. With over 100 years of collective experience, our inpatient, outpatient, and online programs are offered across the country, providing essential compassionate care to patients wherever they are. For more information, visit www.ehncanada.com.

      For more information: Linda Starr, VP Sales and Marketing, Kids & Company: (416) 707 2913 or lstarr@kidsandcompany.com

  • Kids & Company Reveals Fresh Menu for Summertime to Encourage Children’s Healthy Eating Habits

    • Toronto, ON – JULY 5, 2021–Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care in Canada, revealed its summer menu today for its thousands of children across Canada and the U.S. The summer menu includes seasonal foods such as Chicken Souvlaki, Rainbow Berry Bar and Hip Hawaiian Fish. 

      Kids & Company prides itself on its commitment to teaching children healthy eating habits from a young age. The Kidco Kitchen achieves this by creating seasonal menus that surpass the Canada Food Guide for morning and afternoon snacks, to a hot healthy lunch, to a grab-n’-go snack that transitions the children on their way home. 

      Kids & Company’s Chief Food Ambassador Chef Lisa Ruscica has incorporated seasonal ingredients, such as dill, peaches and corn, into the summer menu items. 

      “Our summer menu continues to serve children new, diverse and healthy foods to create a love and appreciation of food,” Chef Ruscica said. “I have been serving Kids & Company children for the past nine years with thoughtful, sophisticated menus. The children not only eat up the fresh, real ingredients we put into every meal — they love it!”

      Family style dining is also a pillar of the Kidco Kitchen. Family-style dining empowers children to make their own food choices and creates pride of ownership in the decisions. It also encourages socialization and fine motor skill development. During COVID, Kids & Company has paused family style dining but hopes to be able to implement it again soon and encourages families to incorporate it at home.

      “A healthy lifestyle is as essential to a child’s development as learning their ABCs,” Kids & Company CEO and founder Victoria Sopik said. “Chef Lisa’s commitment to the Kidco Kitchen’s summer menu and all our menus shows how serious Kids & Company is about giving your child a healthy start.”

      About Kids & Company

      Kids & Company, a proudly Canadian company, works directly with family-oriented corporations to develop progressive child care options that help address employees’ work-life balance and productivity. By partnering with Kids & Company, top-tier companies from a variety of industry sectors are able to add child-care assistance, including guaranteed full-time, part-time and emergency back-up care, and elder care to their suite of employee benefits. For more information, visit www.kidsandcompany.com.

      For more information: Kristy Stratton, Director of Marketing and Brand Management, Kids & Company: (416) 846-8587, kstratton@kidsandcompany.com.

  • Kids & Company Named as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies Again, Reaching Platinum Member Status

    • TORONTO, ON (March 5, 2020) – Kids & Company, Canada’s leader of providing corporate-sponsored child care and other family-friendly benefits, has once again been named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2019 by Deloitte. This is the 7th year that Kids & Company has received this notable honour and has now advanced to become a prestigious Platinum Club Member.

      “Our team is so honoured to receive this acknowledgement that recognizes our dedication to providing nurturing and educational child care,” said co-founder and CEO Victoria Sopik. “The talented people at Kids & Company have worked hard to forge meaningful relationships with corporate partners, our families and our children, and this honour proves we are on the right track.”

      From one centre in Toronto in 2002 to over 130 locations spread across Canada and the U.S., Kids & Company continues to grow and revolutionize the child care experience for thousands of families and hundreds of corporate partners who offer progressive family-friendly benefits with a focus on child care to their employees with families.

      In 2019, Kids & Company introduced online back-up day booking, a Partner Perk Program, a centralized call centre, exclusive webinars and Kidco Work — their complimentary co-working spaces. In 2020, Kids & Company will continue to expand its corporate offering, and open more Kidco Work co-working spaces and continue to expand their geographical reach.

      Kids & Company provides a unique child care model that includes guaranteed placement, no late fees, secure webcams, premium facilities and proprietary educational programs such as Alpha-Mania, Mini Masters and Munchkinetics. In 2019, Kids & Company introduced STREAM Programming (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics) to all of their preschool rooms. The company places a high priority on nutrition with chef-planned menus that are prepared fresh daily by the Kidco Kitchen and tie into aspects of the nutrition curriculum.

      Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is a leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and managed companies. Best Managed companies exhibit a number of common attributes that have helped them create sustained growth. Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.

  • Kids & Company celebrates new Gulf Canada Square centre opening July 18

    • CALGARY, ON (July 18, 2019) – Kids & Company cut the ribbon yesterday on an early learning and child care centre in the heart of downtown Calgary, Alberta, their 19th location in the city and surrounding area.

      From left to right: Randy Nixon, Project Manager at Koralta Construction; Kim Richards, Area Director at Kids & Company; Fraser Sopik, #47 Calgary Stampeders; Victoria Sopik, co-founder and CEO of Kids & Company; Carter Sopik of Avison Young; Sue Purser, Chief Administrative Officer of Kids & company; Myrna Manzano, Director of Kids & Company Gulf Canada Square; Alexi Olcheski, Principal at Avison Young, Glen Wardale, Manager of Operations at GWL Realty Advisors; Laura Newcombe, Director of Property Management at GWL Realty Advisors; Reta Labiuk, Property Management at GWL Realty Advisors.

      On target for their August 2019 welcoming of children and families, the Kids & Company centre will occupy a brand-new ground-floor unit on the eastern wing of the Gulf Canada Square building on 9th Avenue SW. The centre offers child care and early learning programs with a capacity for up to 150 children ranging from infants to school-age children. This spectacular space features large windows with natural life, and a unique and beautiful outdoor play area. This opening from Canada’s leading corporate-sponsored child care provider is meant to serve parents who live and work in the downtown core and brings a sense of optimism to the area. “Our Gulf Canada Square centre stays true to our concept of creating progressive child care and early learning solutions in an accessible and convenient way to families who are already juggling so much on any given day,” said Kids & Company CEO Victoria Sopik, who is a mother of eight, grandmother to six, and award-winning entrepreneur. “I know from experience the stress of raising young children – with features like Grab ‘n’ Go snacks for the end of the day, no late fees, secure webcams and complimentary parent workshops, we are always thinking of new ways to make the lives of our families easier.”

      This location will be offering the STREAM preschool program (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, mathematics) preschool program in addition to the core proprietary programming available for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. The STREAM program features an emphasis on STEM learning with a Montessori approach.

      Their state-of-the-art approach to child care not only resonates with families, but has made Kids & Company the go-to partner for hundreds of companies that sponsor priority child care, family-friendly benefits and back-up child care visits to support their employees.

      Kids & Company provides an innovative model of child care for newborns up until the age of 12. This includes guaranteed placement for families of corporate partners within six months of registration, as well as flexible, part-time and full-time care, and back-up care. There are multiple touch points of communication between parents and teachers, and proprietary educational programs such as Alpha-Mania (pre-literacy and reading), Mini Masters (artistic expression) and Munchkinetics (physical activity and movement).

      Menus from the Kidco Kitchen are made fresh daily and planned by a nutritionist as part of a philosophy of building healthy bodies and minds. Diverse foods are used to expand choices and habits, and family-style dining encourages independence and fine motor skills.

      The public opening celebration was attended by families, corporate partners, local business partners, and well-known faces from Calgary’s strong parent community. Families interested in child care at the Kids & Company at Gulf Canada Square can find out more at www.kidsandcompany.com/gulf-canada-square.

  • National child care leader, Kids & Company, launches child-first co-working model for parents

    • Co-working space, Kidco Work, to be piloted in existing child care centres across Canada & US

      Toronto, May 30, 2019 – Canada’s largest corporate child care provider, Kids & Company, is launching a new service to complement their award-winning childcare offering: co-working spaces for parents. Kidco Work by Kids & Company—where boardroom meets playroom—maintains a child-first standard: ensuring consistent access to high-quality child care is prioritized, while offering a flexible co-working add-on service for self-employed or remote working parents at a competitive rate ($200/month for a hot desk). Kidco Work is being piloted in a few locations across Canada and in the US, beginning with the launch of Kidco Work at Kids & Company Queen Street West (308 Queen St. West) in Toronto this June. While an official Kidco Work launch event is planned for June 2019 in Toronto, the rollout has been a collaborative process: polling and collecting feedback from Kids & Company’s database of 20,000 parents (spanning all 123 child care centres), discussions with corporate partners from diverse industries with flexible work environments (Kids & Company works with over 200 companies to provide child care solutions and assistance for their employees), designing co-working spaces for different markets, and now piloting the first live location in Toronto. “Our mission has always been to understand and innovate the lives of working families,” says Kids & Company Founder & CEO (and mom of 8!), Victoria Sopik. “Kidco Work is a direct response to Canadians’ evolving sense of work-life balance and parents’ increasing need for flexibility and convenience in all facets of their lives. Kidco Work allows families to further customize their day-to-day to suit their family’s unique needs. We’re proud to be offering a child-first solution that looks at the whole picture and addresses the connection between changing work trends and trusted child care.”

      Kidco Work: Feature highlights

      Kidco work spaces are available to parents with children enrolled in any Kids & Company child care program (from 1 to 5 days per week, full- or part-time). Kidco Work anticipates adding additional features following the pilot phase (and using feedback from members).

      • Hot desks are available at a flat rate of $200 per month to any parent who has a child enrolled at Kids & Company.
      • Co-working spaces are located inside Kids & Company centres for maximum convenience.
      • Kidco Work amenities include: hot desks and lounge areas, high-speed wifi, printers and complimentary light snacks from the Kidco Kitchen.
      • The community at Kidco Work is made up of like-minded entrepreneurs, contractors and employees who prioritize both work and family.
      • Flexible child care schedules (1 to 5 days a week) and access to co-working spaces at least 11 hours per day means participants have options to suit their needs.

      The proposed locations to open according to demand after the Queen West pilot are:

      • Boston MA
      • Chicago West Loop IL
      • Britannia Crossing AB
      • Edmonton AB
      • Halifax NS
      • London House AB
      • Surrey Professional BC
      • Westboro ON

      To learn more about Kidco Work co-working spaces please contact kidcowork@kidsandcompany.com.

                                (Artist renderings and photos from Queen West Kidco Work)

  • Kids & Company Named as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies Again

    • TORONTO, ON (March 7, 2019) – Kids & Company, Canada’s leader of providing corporate-sponsored child care, was once again named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2018 by Deloitte. This is the 6thyearthat Kids & Company has received this notable honour and maintained their Gold Standard status. “Our team is honoured to receive this acknowledgment that recognizes our dedication to providing nurturing and educational child care,” said co-founder and CEO Victoria Sopik. “The talented people at Kids & Company have worked hard to forge meaningful relationships with corporate partners and our families, and this honour proves we are on the right track when it comes to continuing our positive growth as an organization.” From one centre in Toronto in 2002 to over 100 locations spread across Canada and the U.S., Kids & Company continues to grow and revolutionize the child care experience for thousands of families and hundreds of corporate partners who offer progressive child care benefits to their employees with families. In 2019, Kids & Company continues to add to their offering by bolstering the corporate offering through an exclusive webinar series and corporate discounts and exploring the addition to co-working spaces in select centres to further align working parents with their family pursuits. Kids & Company provides a unique child care model that includes guaranteed placement, no late fees, secure web cams, premium facilities and proprietary educational programs such as Alpha-Mania, Mini Masters and Munchkinetics. In select locations, Kids & Company has also introduced a STREAM Preschool program (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts and mathematics) to provide a unique learning experience for children with interests and skills in these areas. The company places high priority on their menus with chef-planned menus that are prepared fresh daily by the Kidco Kitchen and tie into aspects of the curriculum to do with nutrition. Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is a leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and -managed companies. Best Managed companies exhibit a number of common attributes that have helped them create sustained growth. Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.

  • Victoria Sopik & Jennifer Nashmi receive RBC Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award

    • TORONTO, NOVEMBER 21st, 2018 – The 26th annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, presented by Women of Influence, have named seven winners of this year’s prestigious awards. They join the six recipients of the new up-and-coming entrepreneur ‘Ones to Watch’ category, announced earlier in September. This year’s winners and recipients span sectors that include innovative apparel solutions, trailblazing food conservation, next-generation fertility treatment, progressive childcare and much more. “RBC is honoured to celebrate the achievements of Canadian women entrepreneurs who have been instrumental in driving business success in Canada,” says Greg Grice, Executive Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC. “We’re proud to put a spotlight on this year’s winners who are exceptional leaders, innovators and rising stars. Their leadership, passion and entrepreneurial spirit serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs to pursue their aspirations and be part of Canada’s thriving business community.” Now in their 26th year, the awards recognize the country’s leading female entrepreneurs who have made impressive and substantial contributions to the local, Canadian or global economy. Following yet another record-breaking 7,400 nominees, this year’s winners are: ● Glain Roberts-McCabe, The Roundtable, Toronto, ON, Micro-Business Award presented by Diversity Institute & Magnet Export Business Portal ● Joanna Griffiths, Knix Wear Inc., Toronto, ON, Staples Start-Up Award ● Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health, Toronto, ON, RBC Momentum Award ● Latha Sukumar, MCIS Language Solutions, Toronto, ON, Social Change Award ● Toni Desrosiers, Abeego, Victoria, BC, TELUS Trailblazer Award ● Victoria Sopik & Jennifer Nashmi, Kids & Company, Toronto, ON, Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award

  • Kids & Company named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2015 by Deloitte

    • (MARCH 9, 2016 – TORONTO) – Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care, has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the third year in a row for its outstanding business performance. “Our team across the country is honoured to receive this acknowledgment that recognizes our dedication to providing nurturing and educational child care,” said co-founder and CEO Victoria Sopik. “The talented people at Kids & Company have worked hard to forge meaningful relationships with corporate partners and families, and this honour proves we are on the right track when it comes to continuing our positive growth as an organization.” Kids & Company credits the ongoing growth to corporate partners, devoted employees, and multitudes of families who utilize the more than 70 centres that offer a unique child care model that includes guaranteed placement, no late fees, secure web cams and proprietary educational programs. “I would like to recognize the entire effort of Kids & Company. It takes a dedicated effort from an entire team to focus on a core vision, create stakeholder value and excel in the global economy to achieve this level of success,” said Peter Brown, Partner, Deloitte and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “Best Managed companies embrace innovation, seize opportunities and inspire talent. They really set the bar high.” Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian-owned and managed companies that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways. Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel on overall business performance, including leadership, strategy, core competencies, cross-functional collaboration throughout organization, and talent. The Best Managed program is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Smith School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

  • Kids & Company named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2014 by Deloitte

    • (MARCH 10, 2015 – TORONTO) – For the second year in a row, Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care, has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2014 for excellence in business performance. “This recognition is a testament to the dedicated team we have across the country who are committed to delivering nurturing and educational care to thousands of children on a daily basis,” said co-founder and CEO Victoria Sopik. “The partnerships Kids & Company have forged with Canada’s vibrant corporate community are strong and we look forward to continuing and building these long-standing relationships.” Kids & Company has grown from one centre in 2002 in Toronto to nearly 70 centres across the country. More centres are scheduled to open over the next year and beyond. The company’s ongoing growth can be attributed to the clients’ demand for more centres, as well as its a unique child care model that includes guaranteed placement, no late fees, secure web cams and proprietary educational programs. “Today’s market place is not just about financial performance; it is also about the investment in the people. Kids & Company invests in their team to build up a strong and stable company. Best Managed companies are home grown companies making smart investments to achieve above average returns,” said Peter Brown, National Co-Leader of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program and Senior Practice Partner, for Deloitte. Canada’s Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

  • Winnipeg Biz announces Kids & Company as Best New Business

    • November 28, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A NEW PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN BIZ UNVEILS BOLD STRATEGIC PLAN Downtown Winnipeg — Over 140 BIZ members and downtown stakeholders attended the Downtown BIZ’s 25th Annual General Meeting, to celebrate the fast-moving progress occurring at the heart of our city, and to highlight the BIZ’s achievements in 2013. After a year of vigorous consultation with BIZ members, stakeholders, and the community at-large, the BIZ also unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2014-2016 which highlighted the following strategic recommendations: In a supportive role to CentreVenture, attract more people to live downtown. New residents help create activity at all hours of the day, frequent retail and cultural institutions and energize older buildings; As the Sports, Hospitality, and Entertainment District unfolds, the BIZ is committed to channel its core functions – safety, cleanliness, placemaking, marketing and events – for this area; Encourage destination retail at street level, with a focus on young entrepreneurs and small business owners, as they are important city catalysts. Retail is a critical amenity for the business community and growing residential base; Enhance and strengthen partnerships with the aboriginal community with the creation of an Aboriginal Peoples’ Advisory Committee. This committee will serve as a formal liaison point between the BIZ and the aboriginal community and will incorporate an aboriginal perspective and voice to our programs; Support the creation and/or the attraction of more evening and/or winter events, giving people unique and incredible reasons to visit the heart of our city; Challenge urban sprawl, car culture, and the growing number of surface parking lots downtown; Advocate for an integrated transportation strategy to better connect people to downtown; and Work to end homelessness for a more socially and economically prosperous downtown. “Our refreshed plan punctuates important promises, not mere declarations of hope, but commitments to act,” said Stefano Grande, Executive Director of the Downtown BIZ. “The strategies chosen show our commitment to our mandate but also a willingness to explore, evolve and change with the broader community in areas that need attention.” At their annual meeting, the BIZ Management Board, staff and volunteers celebrated achievements completed since 2010: Transferred the BIZ Outreach Program to the WPS Cadets, to help people who are intoxicated off the street and quickly for the safety of everyone downtown; Advocating for a permanent solution to homelessness, through the BIZ’s CEO Sleepout that has engaged and mobilized the corporate community to get behind housing initiatives and employment programs. Since 2011, the BIZ has raised over $400,000 to hire over 30 homeless to contribute meaningfully to downtown; Created CHAT, the Community Homeless Assistance Team, to help the homeless get off the street through connections with community supports. We have hired two Outreach Workers and have received numerous letters of support from downtown social agencies and shelters. We feel we can improve the safety of all of Winnipeggers by helping the homeless off the street and in a comprehensive manner; Quietly launched the Watch Loss Prevention Team to better educate and support retailers, parkade owners and operators in the areas of loss prevention – helping to provide preventative tactics to stop retail theft in its tracks; Improved peoples’ perception of downtown safety and cleanliness. Majority of people believe downtown is changing for the better! 90% of people feel safe during the day, a 33% increase since 2007. While more than 50% of people agree downtown is more clean. And 83% of downtown business owners are confident about the current and future direction of downtown Winnipeg; Continue to host events that bring people downtown in the thousands. Our annual festival, ManyFest, continues to attract well over 50,000 people to the heart of our city. This year, we added Winnipeg’s first downtown food truck wars and it was a fan favourite – people were arriving in droves to sample their delicious cuisine offerings. Our Canada Day Living Flag event put downtown on the map in 2012 – when this mass photo-op was chosen to be an official Canada Post stamp, with over 10 million produced and circulated worldwide; Played a lead role in addressing the impact of the closure of 2 grocery stores in and around our downtown. We brought stakeholders together to complete a market feasibility assessment for a downtown grocery store. Since its publication, CentreVenture has championed this issue to find our downtown a grocer. When we heard from local residents, our members, and the business community, we felt the need to do something to address this gap. With the assistance of Manitoba Hydro and CentreVenture, the BIZ created downtown’s first farmers’ market, a widely popular destination for Winnipeggers. From July to September, people arrived in the thousands to support the local economy and produce farmed right here in Manitoba. In November, we hosted a pilot winter farmers’ market and just like we had hoped, we saw people en masse. “Downtown investment is back with a vengeance with 9 towers proposed or underway and $2 billion of investment added to downtown streets since 2005,” Grande proudly stated. “We’re expecting a residential rebirth with the downtown population approaching nearly 16,000 people, with almost 2,000 units of housing proposed.” Grande added: “More events are popping up downtown than ever before, attracting millions of people. There’s increased public art and more police foot patrols. More is also being done to help the homeless off the street and into a better place.” The BIZ also revealed its annual BIZ Achievement Award recipients for 2013: Best New Business & Property Manager – Kids & Company Daycare / Green Valley Management Most Outstanding BIZ Member Committed to Ending Homelessness & Improving Our City – Rob Johnston, RBC Regional President Best Public Institution – Millennium Library Park Best Not-for-Profit Institution – Youth for Christ Best Arts and Entertainment (Not-for-Profit) – Prairie Theatre Exchange Best Arts and Entertainment – The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre Trending Hotspot – Rudy’s Eat and Drink Timeless Classic (Fine Dining) – Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar Timeless Classic (Retail) – Canadian Footwear Best Small Project (Huge Downtown Boost) – Metric Marketing Download the BIZ’s 2013 Annual Report and/or Strategic Plan for 2014-2016 at www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com. For more information: Jason Syvixay Leader, Strategic Initiatives & Public Relations Ph: (204) 958-4635; Cell: 997-3040 jason@downtownwinnipegbiz.com

  • Kids & Company named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2013 by Deloitte

    • (MARCH 25, 2014 – TORONTO) – Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care, has been named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2013 by Deloitte. “This tremendous honour would not be possible without the more than 1,400 Kids & Company staff across the country who work tirelessly to provide nurturing care to thousands of children every day,” said Co-founder and CEO Victoria Sopik. “To be recognized as the only child care company on the 2013 list in Canada is a prestigious distinction.” With the ongoing and growing support from corporate partners and the thousands of families who utilize the centres on a daily basis, Kids & Company has grown from one centre in 2002 in Toronto to 56 centres currently across the country, with more openings planned for the future. Kids & Company also expanded into U.S. in late 2013, opening its first American centre in Chicago. Kids & Company provides a unique child care model that includes guaranteed placement, no late fees, secure web cams and proprietary educational programs such as Alpha-Mania, Mini Masters and Munchkinetics. The company also takes pride in preparing daily fresh and healthy meals from the Kidco Kitchen. Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is a leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and -managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Best Managed companies exhibit a number of common attributes that have helped them create sustained growth. These attributes can be evenly classified among the three vital building blocks to sustainable growth: strategy, capability, and commitment. Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums.

  • Kids & Company Founders Win RBC Momentum Award as part of the Prestigious RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards

    • (November 28, 2013 – TORONTO) – Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi, Co-Founders of Kids & Company, Canada’s leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care, won the RBC Momentum Award as part of the prestigious RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards at an awards gala last night. The RBC Momentum Award recognizes entrepreneurs who have successfully overcome obstacles and capitalized on opportunities to deliver growth of 10 per cent or more year-over-year, for more than three years. It acknowledges entrepreneurs who have created a flexible and responsive business that is able to adapt to changing markets and leverage opportunities for continued growth. This may come through expanded management, empowered employees, and demonstrated excellence. “This amazing honour is a testament to the Kids & Company team who have dedicated themselves to giving working parents the peace-of-mind to trust their children in our hands and excel in the workplace,” said CEO Victoria Sopik, a mother of eight. Research has found that 54 per cent employers report that child care services had a positive impact on employee absenteeism, reducing missed workdays by as much as 30 per cent. “With the support of and growing demand from our corporate partners, Kids & Company has grown from one centre in 2002 to 49 licensed centres across the country today,” said CFO Jennifer Nashmi, a mother of three. Kids & Company is continuing to grow, expanding its unique and proprietary child care programs into the U.S. in the upcoming months. The first U.S. location will open in Chicago in December, and other locations will launch in 2014. The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards are the pre-eminent national business awards recognizing the country’s leading female entrepreneurs. The awards are an initiative of Women of Influence Inc., an award-winning organization dedicated to advancing and fulfilling the needs of Canadian women in business. This year, approximately 3,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada were nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Awards.

  • Kids & Company Founders Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi named #11 on Profit Magazine’s list of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs

    • (Toronto, October 15, 2013) — The 15th annual W100 ranking of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs, produced by PROFIT Magazine and Chatelaine, has named Kids & Company’s Victoria Sopik, President and CEO and Jennifer Nashmi, CFO, number 11 on the list. This is the seventh year in a row Sopik and Nashmi have made the list. Kids & Company is Canada’s leading corporate-sponsored child care provider, established in 2002 by Sopik and Nashmi who saw a need for a new model of child care to support working parents. Now with nearly 50 centres across Canada, Kids & Company is expanding into the United States later this year with a centre in Chicago. “We are deeply honoured to be included on this prestigious list among such a distinguished group of Canadian women entrepreneurs,” said Victoria Sopik, President and CEO of Kids & Company. “When we established Kids & Company, our goal was to provide working parents with the support and peace-of-mind needed to be able to concentrate on their jobs and know that their child was in good hands. Making the W100 list for the seventh year in a row is a testament to the need for this service and we credit our growth to the support of our clients and the dedicated staff at each of our centres.” “This year’s W100 are a dream group of ambitious, forward-thinking entrepreneurs who defy outdated notions of female entrepreneurship,” said Ian Portsmouth, Publisher and Editor-in‐Chief of PROFIT. “They are running sophisticated and sizeable businesses in challenging industries, and finding new ways to operate and innovate for growth and sustainability.” “Ranking Canada’s To p Fem ale Entrepreneurs on a composite score based on the size, growth rate and profitability of their businesses, the W100 profiles the country’s most successful female business owners. Published in the November issue of PROFIT and the December issue of Chatelaine and online at PROFITguide.com and chatelaine.com, the W100 is Canada’s largest Annual celebration of entrepreneurial achievement by women.”

  • Kids & Company wins Canada’s inaugural Passion Capitalists Award

    • (November 13, 2012 – TORONTO) – Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care has been named one of ten winners of the 2012 Canada’s Passion Capitalists award. The awards recognize organizations that have achieved long-term success through their “passion capital” — the energy, intensity, and sustainability needed to generate superior results. Kids & Company, currently with 44 child care centres across Canada, provides employees of corporate clients with guaranteed full-time, part-time and emergency back-up child care. The centres offer nutritious meals and snacks, proprietary education programs such as Alpha-Mania, Mini-Masters and Munchkinetics, as well as Music, French, and Sign Language for infants. “We’re delighted to be named a winner of the inaugural Passion Capitalists award,” said Victoria Sopik, Co-founder and CEO of Kids & Company. “Kids & Company was created 10 years ago, establishing a model of child care that didn’t exist in Canada. We have certainly grown and succeeded in responding to the needs of working parents and their employers through passion, dedication and energy. We are thrilled to be recognized for these efforts and their accompanying success.” The idea for Canada’s Passion Capitalists awards came when Paul Alofs, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation was writing the book Passion Capital. Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions created the awards in partnership with Torys, Global Governance Advisors, as well as Business News Network (BNN) and The National Post, and the program launched in May 2012. The 28 finalists represented a diverse range of sectors and industries, and winners were determined by a national judging panel. For more information about the Passion Capitalist awards visit www.canadaspassioncapitalists.com.

  • Kids & Company Founders Win Prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award

    • (October 11, 2012 – TORONTO) – Kids & Company, the leading provider of corporate-sponsored child care has won a prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Ontario Award in the category of business-to- business products and services. The annual awards program honours outstanding businesses who have turned their unique business vision into a successful reality. Kids & Company, currently with 44 child care centres across Canada, provides employees of corporate clients with guaranteed full-time, part-time and emergency back-up child care. The centres offer nutritious meals and snacks, proprietary education programs such as Alpha-Mania, Mini-Masters and Munchkinetics, as well as Music, French, and Sign Language for infants. With studies showing work-life conflict costing Canadian companies up to $10 billion a year, Kids & Company has provided a solution for corporate Canada by creating an innovative model funded by companies looking to enhance their support of employees and help them better balance the demands on working parents. This year, there were more than 300 nominees across Canada. Kids & Company was among a list of finalists chosen for their vision, leadership, and social responsibility in the business-to-business products and services category. “We’re honoured to be selected from so many inspiring entrepreneurs,” said Victoria Sopik, Co-founder and CEO of Kids & Company. “Kids & Company was created to help employers support working parents by providing them with guaranteed access to worry-free child care. We are thrilled to see the positive response and growing demand we have received from both employers and their employees from coast-to-coast.” Established in 2002, Kids & Company is celebrating its 10-year anniversary next month and has grown from one centre in one city to 44 centres in more than 21 cities across Canada.

  • Kids & Company wins Frontenac Heritage Foundation award for restoration and use of Wellington Street location in Kingston, Ontario

    • October 9, 2012 – The Frontenac Heritage Foundation will be awarding Canada’s leading corporate-sponsored child care provider, Kids & Company, for its conservation work at 126 Wellington Street, the Kingston location which opened last year. The building where Kids & Company’s Kingston location is housed is the former Congregational Church, and an important heritage site in the community. Kids & Company has worked with the building’s owners Jay and Toby Abramsky to ensure the historical integrity of the building has been maintained while giving the space a modern day repurposing. “We were thrilled to be able to locate our centre in such a wonderful and unique heritage location. We knew going in that we wanted to play our part to maintain the integrity of this beautiful space and stay true to the historic elegance while giving it a 21st century use,” said Victoria Sopik, Co-Founder and CEO of Kids & Company. “We thank the Frontenac Heritage Foundation for recognizing the efforts we have made to work with the building’s owners to preserve the space while providing our community with modern-day functionality.” “Within the space, they have maintained what was the nave, with its stained glass windows, preserved the feel of the space and its decorations, and subdivided the floor space by partitions to meet the needs of the children through a sensitive repurposing of an important heritage building,” said Paul Christianson, Chair of the Awards Committee, Kingston Heritage Foundation. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Kingston Heritage Foundation and the 30th Anniversary of their awards for the conservation of heritage structures in Kingston and Frontenac County. Kids & Company will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation at the Awards Ceremony taking place tonight, October 9, 2012, at the Renaissance Event Centre, 285 Queen Street, starting at 7 p.m.