Job Summary

The Educator (Kinder/School Age) at Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS) is a specialized pedagogical role within one of Ottawa’s most respected non-profit childcare organizations. Located at the Hopewell Child Care Program (Old Ottawa South), this position focuses on the “Emergent Curriculum” philosophy, bridging the gap between home and school. This role requires the “wit” to design spontaneous, child-led learning experiences and the “grit” to maintain high energy levels during a predictable split-shift schedule.

Job Details

Employer: Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS).
Location: 17 Hopewell Ave, Ottawa, ON (Hopewell Avenue Public School).
Position Type: Permanent, Part-Time (22.5 hours/week).
Compensation: $33.81 per hour (New Premium Rate).
Schedule: Split Shift (7:30–9:00 AM and 2:30–5:30 PM).
- Note: 7 hours required on PA days and non-school days.
Status: Unionized.
Start Date: March 23, 2026.
Closing Date: March 21, 2026.

Core Responsibilities

Emergent Curriculum Execution: Collaborate with children to develop projects based on their immediate interests and questions, moving away from rigid, pre-planned lessons.
Nurturing Care: Provide safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate programming for school-age children (Kindergarten and up).
Outdoor Advocacy: Actively promote and lead outdoor learning and play, connecting children with the natural world.
Family Partnership: Act as a resource for families, providing consultations and ensuring a welcoming environment for diverse family structures.
Administrative Diligence: Utilize weekly “off-floor” non-contact time to prepare programming and document children’s developmental milestones.
Professionalism: Maintain respectful, curious interactions that role-model inclusive and accessible language.

Candidate Requirements

Education: Degree or Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Bachelor of Education, Recreation, or Child and Youth Worker (CYW) diploma.
Certification: Must be an RECE in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) or a member of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).
Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience working with children in a group setting.
Technical Wit: Understanding of “How Does Learning Happen?” (Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years).
Physicality: Adequate energy levels to meet the demands of active play and outdoor supervision.
Clearances: Clear Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) completed within the last 6 months; valid Standard First Aid and CPR.

The AFCS Advantage

Andrew Fleck is recognized for offering one of the most comprehensive “Total Rewards” packages in the childcare sector:

Premium Pay: $33.81/hour is significantly above the regional average for part-time educators.
Retirement Security: A 6% Employer Matching RRSP program.
Generous Leave: 4 weeks of vacation annually, 18 days of sick leave, and 9 days of special/personal leave.
Professional Growth: Dedicated weekly non-contact time and access to mentorship programs to upgrade skills.
Stability: A unionized environment that protects hours and provides clear career development pathways.

Market Insights: Emergent Curriculum in Ontario

Andrew Fleck utilizes an Emergent Curriculum, which is a key component of modern Ontario childcare standards.

Child-Led Learning: Instead of the educator deciding “this week we learn about birds,” the educator observes a child looking at a nest and builds a month-long exploration of biology and engineering around it.
The Environment as the “Third Teacher”: The physical space is intentionally curated to provoke curiosity and encourage self-directed play.
Documentation: Educators use “pedagogical documentation” (photos and notes) to make the children’s learning visible to parents and colleagues.

Job Description

Do you believe that children are competent, curious, and capable of leading their own learning journey? Andrew Fleck Children’s Services is seeking a Kinder Educator to join our Hopewell team. We aren’t just providing “daycare”; we are creating a community where children thrive before and after the school day. If you have the “grit” to lead outdoor play in all Ottawa seasons and the “wit” to turn a child’s question into a week-long discovery project, you belong at AFCS.

In this role, you are a “Learning Facilitator.” You understand that your interactions role-model the world for the children in your care. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Pedagogy,” ensuring every child feels respected and every family feels welcomed. We look for “Integrity-first” educators who value a collaborative team environment and are eager to grow through our unique culture of mentorship.

Joining Andrew Fleck means joining an organization that respects your professional expertise and rewards it with market-leading compensation. We offer a supportive, unionized environment where your voice is valued and your career can truly flourish. If you are an RECE or B.Ed professional with a commitment to “Equity and Excellence,” we invite you to apply for this permanent part-time role by March 21st.

Andrew Fleck Children’s Services | Ottawa’s Legacy of Inclusive Care

Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS) is one of Canada’s oldest and most diversified non-profit childcare organizations. Established in 1911 as the “Ottawa Day Nursery,” it has spent over a century evolving from a localized settlement house into a city-wide leader in early childhood education (ECE). Today, it is recognized for its pioneering work in inclusive childcare, forest and nature schooling, and intergenerational programming, serving as a critical pillar for thousands of families across the National Capital Region.

Company Culture: “Excellence through Inclusivity”

The culture at AFCS is built on a “child-focused” and “family-centered” philosophy that prioritizes the rights of every child to high-quality care.

Emergent Curriculum: The educational culture is spontaneous and responsive. Rather than rigid lesson plans, educators follow an emergent curriculum, where topics are driven by the ideas, questions, and interests of the children themselves.
Leadership & Innovation: AFCS is known for being “unapologetically progressive.” They frequently pilot demonstration projects, such as their collaboration with Perley Health to create spaces where seniors and children interact daily.
Diversity & Respect: The organization fosters a multicultural and bilingual (English/French) environment. The internal values of Excellence, Leadership, Integrity, Accountability, and Responsiveness guide how staff interact with each other and families.
Professional Growth: AFCS treats ECE as a serious profession. They provide weekly scheduled “off-floor” time for preparation and documentation, along with heavy investments in staff certifications, particularly in forest and nature school training.

Key Locations & Programs

AFCS operates a vast network of centers and specialized services headquartered in the Trainyards area.

Corporate Headquarters: 700 Industrial Avenue, Suite 600, Ottawa, ON K1G 0Y9.
Ottawa Forest & Nature School: Located at Wesley Clover Parks, this program offers a unique outdoor-first learning experience where children build life-long relationships with the land.
Mooney’s Bay Intergenerational Centre: A landmark site at 2826 Springland Dr. that brings together children and seniors for mutual learning and companionship.
Community Hubs: They operate major centers such as George Street (the historic 1932 building), Colonel By, Capital, Charles Hulse, and Hopewell Avenue, spanning from downtown to Stittsville.

Core Service Pillars

Service	Specialization	Impact
Licensed Group Care	Infants to School-Age.	Operating dozens of high-quality centers in schools and community hubs.
Licensed Home Child Care	Small group care in provider homes.	Offering a flexible, intimate alternative to large centers across the city.
Inclusion Support (CISS)	Supporting children with special needs.	Providing resources and specialized staff to ensure all children can thrive in group settings.
EarlyON Centres	Free drop-in programs for families.	Supporting parents and caregivers with resources and play-based learning.
Short-Term Child Care	Emergency and temporary care.	Providing a safety net for families in transition or crisis.

Associate Benefits: “The Professional Educator Package”

As a non-profit leader, AFCS provides a benefits package that is widely considered “above market rate” for the childcare sector:

Competitive 2026 Salary:
- Registered ECEs (RECE): $27.70 – $32.44/hr ($54,015 – $63,258 annually).
- Program Coordinators: $31.92 – $34.75/hr.
- Housekeepers/Cooks: $17.20 – $25.59/hr.
Time Off: Generous packages including 4 weeks of vacation to start, 18 days of sick leave, and 9 days of “special leave” (including personal days).
Financial Security: Employer matching RRSP program at 6%, helping staff build long-term savings.
Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical and dental plans, plus life insurance and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Non-Contact Time: Unlike many centers, AFCS schedules weekly non-contact time for staff to focus on documentation (using tools like Storypark) and connecting with families.
Career Advancement: Extensive mentorship programs and tuition support for those looking to specialize in areas like Forest Schooling or leadership roles.

2026 Community Initiative: The “Mixed-Housing” Project

AFCS is currently leading a 4-year project to co-construct a new facility that combines licensed childcare with non-profit housing. This innovative model aims to house single parents and seniors in the same building as the childcare center, creating a “built-in” intergenerational community that addresses both the housing crisis and childcare needs in Ottawa.

To apply for this job please visit www.afchildrensservices.ca.