As we celebrate Family Day’s 175th anniversary, we have the opportunity to reflect on an extraordinary journey that began in 1851 – 16 years before Confederation — with a simple but powerful belief: that children, families, and communities thrive when they are supported, valued, and connected.
Over the past 175 years, much has changed. We have grown from serving the local communities of Toronto to supporting thousands of children, families, educators, and caregivers across Ontario through child care, early learning, family supports, and community services. We have adapted to changing needs, embraced new ideas, and navigated challenges that our founders could never have imagined.
Yet through every chapter of our history, our purpose has remained remarkably consistent.
Family Day was founded on the principle that strong communities are built by investing in people — particularly children and families. That commitment continues to guide us today. Whether in our child care centres, home child care programs, EarlyON Centres and family support services, or community partnerships, we remain focused on creating welcoming, inclusive environments where children can learn, families can thrive, and communities can flourish.
Reaching 175 years is not simply an organizational milestone; it is a testament to the dedication, compassion, and leadership of the generations of staff, home child care providers, volunteers, community partners, and families who have shaped Family Day’s story. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to our legacy and entrusted us to be part of their lives.
As we honour our past, we are equally excited about our future. The needs of children and families continue to evolve, and so will we. We remain committed to innovation, quality, inclusion, and advocacy as we work alongside our communities to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Thank you for being part of our story. We are proud of the past 175 years and inspired by what we will build together in the years ahead.
For 175 years, Family Day has adapted and grown alongside the children, families, and communities we serve. While our programs and approaches have changed over time, our purpose has remained remarkably consistent: supporting children and families to thrive.
The story of Family Day is one of evolution — from orphanage care to foster care, from child care to early learning, and from local service provider to one of Ontario’s largest not-for-profit organizations supporting children and families.
The last 25 years have been no exception…
2001 | Celebrating 150 Years
As Family Day celebrated its 150th anniversary, we reflected on a rich history of caring for children and supporting families while looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges of a new century.
The next 25 years would bring new partnerships, new approaches, and new ways of supporting the children, families, and communities we serve.
Early 2000s | Growing with our Communities
As communities across the GTA grew and changed, Family Day expanded its programs, partnerships, and services to meet the evolving needs of children and families.
Among the first agencies to do so, we opened Ontario Early Years Centres (now EarlyON Child and Family Centres), creating welcoming spaces where families with young children could connect, learn, and grow together. We expanded child care programs and strengthened community partnerships, helping families access services and supports closer to home.
2010s | Inclusion, Belonging and Equity
As the communities we serve became increasingly diverse, Family Day deepened its commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive environments where every child, family, educator, and community member feels they belong.
This commitment continues to guide our work through our Anti-Oppression Framework and our efforts to embed the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout our programs, services, and organizational practices.
2020 | Supporting Communities Through a Pandemic
During one of the most challenging periods in recent history, Family Day adapted quickly and creatively to continue supporting children, families, educators, and essential workers.
From emergency child care programs to new health and safety practices and innovative ways of staying connected and offering programs, we remained committed to providing stability, care, and support when it was needed most.
Early 2020s | Reconnecting Children with Nature
Building on years of learning and exploration, Family Day expanded its commitment to outdoor learning and nature-based practice, recognizing the important role that play, exploration, and connection to nature have in children’s development and well-being.
Whether splashing in puddles, exploring forests, or discovering the changing seasons, children were encouraged to learn with all of their senses and develop a lifelong connection to the natural world.
2022 | A New Era for Child Care
The introduction of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system marked a historic moment for families and for the sector, creating new opportunities to improve affordability and accessibility for children across Ontario and Canada.
Today, Family Day continues to work alongside governments, partners, and communities to help build a stronger and more accessible early learning and child care system — one that enables more families to access the quality early learning experiences that children deserve and communities depend upon.
2026 | Celebrating 175 Years
As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we honour the generations of children, families, educators, home child care providers, volunteers, and community partners who have shaped our story. While much has changed over 175 years, our purpose remains the same: helping children, families, and communities thrive.
Our history continues to be written — one child, one family, and one community at a time.
As we celebrate Family Day’s 175th anniversary, we are proud to look back on the people, values, and moments that have shaped our story.
In 2001, as part of our 150th anniversary, Family Day commissioned For the Children, a written history capturing the first century and a half of our work with children, families, and communities. We are pleased to share this history here as part of our 175th anniversary webpage.
As we continue to build on this legacy, these pages offer a meaningful opportunity to reflect on where we began, how we have grown, and the enduring commitment to children and families that continues to guide us today.
