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December 3, 2025
News
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Little Beginnings Urban Oasis (LBUO) Childcare Centre is celebrating a big award from the Alberta Government — the Minister’s Awards of Excellence in Child Development!
“We’re proud to be awarded as one of three of the best ECE (Early Childhood Education) Programs in Alberta,” LBUO Childcare Centre Manager Raghda Abouelfetouh said.
The annual awards recognize early childhood educators, honouring their outstanding commitment to excellence in quality care for children.
In 2025, the Alberta government received 100 nominations from across the province, making this honour even more special.
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“You are shaping happy, successful childhoods in partnership with families and in partnership with the wider community,” Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides said during the virtual awards ceremony.
“And you’re doing this all the while in setting the stage for longterm success in school.”
LBUO was established by TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) in the spring of 2024.
Since then, it has grown to welcome 41 children during day, evening, and weekend classes. These children are cared for by 12 staff — who speak a whopping 15 languages!
One parent, whose children attend LBUO, said in their submission to the awards committee that the centre is “transforming the meaning of early childhood education.”
The parent went on to say that from the moment they enrolled, they felt that “their children were not just cared for — but truly seen, understood and nurtured in every sense.”
Other nominators added that LBUO was truly exceptional in the way that it supports the children and their families — including its free monthly workshops, and free family events.
The award also noted LBUO’s smaller child-educator ratios, and sensory materials built into every classroom — leading to the feeling of inclusion and empowerment for the children.
“We design the environment to fit the children — not the other way around. We don’t want to be forcing the children to conform to rigid rules,” Abouelfetouh said.
The centre also celebrates a number of different cultures, and it encourages the children to do so as well.
“When you honour children from different backgrounds — it’s beautiful.”
It can also be heart-wrenching.
Some of the children at LBUO have come from war-torn regions, and that comes with an entirely different set of challenges.
“One little girl was traumatized. She was scared. We are located next to the airport so whenever she heard an airplane — it was a meltdown for her,” Abouelfetouh told the minister.
That same child, Abouelfetouh recounted, is now helping other children — facing the same fears.
“The way you see her calming them down and giving them a hug when the airplane was passing by, ‘We’re safe. This is just an airplane.’”
LBUO took some time to get its footing, but it now has a waitlist of 51 children for its various programs.
TIES said these numbers, along with this award, are testaments of the hard work and dedication by all of LBUO’s dedicated staff.
“This is very exciting,” TIES Chief Programs Officer Suman Khanal said.
“We’re very honoured to get this award from the government for our facility, which has not been around for that long.”
“I’m extremely grateful for our unique quality care and can’t wait for us to expand and lead the inclusive ECE (Early Childhood Education) industry,” Abouelfetouh added.
Looking for affordable childcare for newcomers and low-income families? Visit the LBUO website here.
CTV: Calgary child care embracing sensory learning and playing
Little Beginnings Marks Big Milestone with Sensory Project
Little Beginnings: Big Happenings at TIES Childcare Centre
Media RSVP, Interviews & Inquiries:
Tomasia DaSilva
Media and Relationship Strategist
Email: tomasiadasilva@immigrant-education.ca
Phone: 403-291-0002
Get involved with TIES on our social media platforms.
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