Location + History
WMCC is nestled on beautiful and tranquil Algonquin Island, located at the northeast end of the Toronto Islands chain. The Centre is bordered by Lake Ontario and the stunning city skyline, a scenic meadow, mature trees and winding pathways that lead to the quaint homes of neighbours.
THIS SETTING IS RIPE FOR DISCOVERY in the natural sciences and is a rich resource for WMCC teachers and students. All children spend hours outdoors learning about their natural environment during the walk to and from school and during scheduled time spent in the Centre’s playground, meadow and garden. Each day offers an opportunity to fall in love with bugs, birds and even beavers. Nature is not only fun and enjoyable, but a spectacular teaching tool!
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The school lies on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is and has been home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We strive to be in harmony with the people, animals, plants, waters, and the land and honour those that came before us. The Toronto Islands or ‘Menecing’ (meaning ‘on the island’ in the Ojibwe language) have long been a place of refuge. The Mississaugas of the Credit used the island for rest, relaxation and healing.
THE TORONTO ISLANDS encompass a vibrant residential community and a variety of family-friendly sights and events. One can come across an amusement park, hobby farm, bird sanctuary, swamps, tadpole ponds, beaches, woods and environmentally protected areas. Key places to experience include Gibraltar Point, Island Public School, Island Cafe, Riviera Cafe, St. Andrew-by-the-Lake Church, Hanlan’s Point Beach, Centreville, Franklin Children’s Garden and Far Enough Farm. For a more detailed description of the islands and their history, visit: Toronto Island History in their own words. For Friends of Toronto Islands information: www.torontoislands.org
The History of WMCC
OUR SCHOOL WAS FORMED IN 1974 by Island parents as a parent co-op. The Montessori part of the program was initiated by the first teacher who was a trained Montessori teacher. It was a nursery to grade three program in those days. The name had waterfront in it because there were plans to have small Casa programs that would feed the grade school. There was a Casa program in a small school portable at the foot of Bathurst Street. This was long before all the development along the waterfront!
The plan was a good one but a little ahead of its time. By 1989 the school could not support a primary program (grade 1 to 3), so that part of the school was closed, and we continued on as a day nursery with a license for children 2 and ½ to 5 years of age.
That year (1989) the AIA had a fire while re-roofing the building. The school was housed for one year where the Rectory Café and Island Trust offices are. From 1989 to the present the building has been completely rebuilt by both the Island community and WMCC parents. The community members raised thousands of dollars to accomplish this. It is a wonderful story of people working together to create space for community to happen. WMCC was part of this sharing time, effort, and money as part of our contribution to the building.
As a co-op the school has maintained the spirit of working together to a common goal to create more for our families and staff. We are all in it together. The children end up knowing that they are part of a community. They naturally create it. Their teachers and the activities that we do like our Pot Luck Suppers encourage them to take part.
There are many alumni that are proud of what they started and what we maintain today. We know this because they check in from time to time. Some of the children come back to work in the program and now they are starting to bring their children to go to their school. The dream of a little school for children to have the best start possible brings them back.
Historic images courtesy: https://history.torontoisland.org