Parent Resource Centre, Ottawa, ON

In response to a community-based proposal from parents and educators of preschoolers in the Ottawa-Carleton region, the Parent Resource Centre (formerly known as the Parent Preschool Resource Centre) opened in 1975 as a demonstration project of the Ministry of National Health and Welfare (now Health Canada). The original aim was to provide a centralized location to store, share and distribute information about the needs of preschool children, aged birth to five. The Centre evolved as a community-wide resource for caregivers, parents and professionals involved with early childhood issues.

It soon became apparent that one of the most important aspects of the Centre's service was to provide a place for parents and caregivers to meet, to access resources and to connect with other adults while their preschoolers played. "Drop-In" hours were extended and the number of daytime workshops and opportunities for volunteering were increased to meet the needs of the community.

Outreach to caregivers and other community groups followed, and the past two decades have seen tremendous achievements throughout the wider community, particularly in supporting parents who, because of their social and economic circumstances, might not have access to the resources they need as they take on the challenging job of raising young children.