About Umbrella Family
Providing
service to over
2,400 children
each day
For over 30 years, Umbrella Family and Child Centres ofHamilton has enjoyed the reputation of being an organizationthat offers high-quality programs to children and theirfamilies. We operate 27 centres in public elementary schools throughout the City of Hamilton – including outlying areas –and provide service to over 2,400 children each day.
In operation since 1988, Umbrella is a non-profit corporationadministered by a community-based Board of Directors whohave a keen interest in early learning and childcare.
We take pride in the diverse and rich backgrounds of ouremployees, families, and the communities we serve. We havedeveloped and implemented policies and procedures thataddress and reduce systemic racism and anti-bias practicesthroughout the organization. Diversity is celebrated byacknowledging similarities and differences and providingperspectives that embrace beauty and value all differences. We provide opportunities through materials and experiencesfor children, and through professional development for staffto explore diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and practices.
Located within elementary schools, families appreciatethe availability of a ‘seamless day’ for their children –early learning, care and education ‘under one roof’. Sinceprograms open at 7:00 am, families are free to leave theirchildren in the hands of capable, competent and caring staffmembers until it is time to pick them up at the end of the day.
Land Acknowledgment
Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton are situated on the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas. We recognize that our city is home to many Indigenous people, and we have a responsibility to learn more and increase our understanding of this land’s history, actively cultivating a sense of appreciation, respect, and belonging.
In our work with children, we are dedicated to respecting the land, nurturing a love and appreciation for the earth, and fostering an understanding of those who were the first caretakers and stewards of this land. We commit to fostering an appreciation of nature and a connection to the land in our programs, both indoors and outdoors as well as learning from Indigenous voices as we grow in this work.