A group of babies, also known as Tiny Teachers, who are only marking their first birthdays are being celebrated as classroom heroes on May 22nd at the District School Board of Niagara Education Centre Atrium, 191 Carlton Street, St. Catharines, for their contribution in helping children develop empathy over a school year. These babies, alongside their loving parents and with the guidance of a Roots of Empathy Instructor, nurture emotional literacy and social competence in children, lasting skills that help children make friends and improve their mental health.

The internationally recognized and award-winning Roots of Empathy Program developed by social entrepreneur, educator, and author Mary Gordon, has been offered within Niagara’s classrooms since 2001. Twenty-seven (27) classrooms are participating this year within District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and Niagara Catholic District School Board, impacting over 600 students. Research shows the Roots of Empathy program helps children understand and express feelings, reduce aggression and bullying, increase empathy and prosocial behaviours that foster inclusion and respect for others, and deepen their understanding of infant development and safety - all important for mental health, future parenting and responsible citizenship.
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Thorold Kiwanis Club is supporting three charities: TCAG, Community Care of St.Catharines and Thorold, and the Early Childhood Community Development Centre. On Schmon Parkway, ECCDC leases a community outreach van to deliver resources to early learning and child-care programs throughout the region.The Kiwanis club’s nearly $2,000-a-year contribution went toward the organization’s new four-year lease for the van, which is also supported by the St.Catharines, Niagara Falls Stamford and Welland clubs. Kelly Bol, an early learning training and events consultant with ECCDC, said thevan has made nearly 1,000 deliveries since obtained four years ago.
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As a key point agency for Roots of Empathy, the ECCDC is the local coordinator of the Roots of Empathy program, and is the key contact working directly with the Roots of Empathy Provincial Staff, Mentors, Instructors and with DSBN and NCDSB School Board Representatives. In this key role ECCDC coordinate’s the annual program start-up and implementation, recruits new Instructors and supports them throughout the training process, oversees regular program maintenance, and coordinates year end wrap up activities inclusive of the annual Baby Celebration. ECCDC is grateful to our partners at both the District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School Board in bringing Roots of Empathy to classrooms across the Niagara Region for the past 25 years!
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Each year the Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC) in Niagara Region holds its annual Niagara Early Learning and Child Care Appreciation and Recognition Gala to honour and celebrate the “exemplary achievements and outstanding contributions made by early childhood educators, administrators, volunteers and other valuable staff working within Niagara’s early learning and child care programs.” Recognition presentations are offered in a wide variety of categories, celebrating individuals and teams for achievements in leadership, volunteerism, professionalism, inclusion and commitment to ongoing learning, among other things.
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The Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC), a registered charity, is thrilled to accept a generous $16,000 donation from the Kiwanis Clubs of Niagara. This funding will support the design and development of early literacy resources for local licensed child care programs.

Literacy is a foundational skill that begins developing at birth. Research shows that hands-on storytelling props, such as story sacks, support early literacy by encouraging children who are not yet reading to verbally tell, act out, and engage with stories. These resources also support visual learners with comprehension and offers educators a unique way to capture the children’s attention. The story sacks will strengthen listening skills and will introduce early numeracy concepts such as prediction and sequencing. These unique resources will be thoughtfully curated by the Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC), a charity that has provided resources, professional learning, and organizational support to early learning programs within Niagara for 32 years.
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