North Grenville Learning Centre History

The North Grenville Learning Centre was a dream made reality. 

In 2004, founder Mary Jane Kohler (former executive director at NGLC) and a group of mothers came together and made the decision to start a nursery school.

Mary Jane, an experienced Early Childhood Educator was ready to strike out on her own; the other mothers all had children who had been taught by Mary Jane and wanted to be part of creating a new and exciting childcare facility within their community.

As a non-profit organization, the 9 women, along with their friends and families fund-raised, applied for grants and worked with the community to develop this wonderful initiative.

In 2016, Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) approached NGLC to inquire about a possible collaboration to offer a French childcare centre on the Kemptville Campus site. Following extensive renovations on the Rorke Hall building, NGLC opened Centre Éducatif Rivière Rideau in January 2018 to offer a French childcare program for Toddlers and Preschool aged children.

Since 2018, the building has been fully adapted to house the CEPEO Rivière Rideau school that includes a Before and After School program, in addition to the Toddler and Preschool programs offered by NGLC.

Today, NGLC is a prospering part of the community that still embodies the original foundations, to continue providing high-quality childcare and learning opportunities to the community’s children.

In November 2022 we moved our English infant, toddler and preschool programs to the new addition at Kemptville Public School (UCDSB)

In September 2023 we reopened our Infant, Toddler, and Preschool programs at Leahurst on the Kemptville Campus.

NGLC is also training educators as “Certified Forest School Practitioners” to further add Forest School practices to its program offerings