Information for young families

There is no shortage of activities for children in Fort Smith. For a list of licensed day homes, please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Mary Kaeser Library

Storytime with Juneva Green

• Stories are read out loud to preschool-age children. Parents are asked to accompany their children.
• COST: Free
• Mondays 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Recreation and Community Centre

The Recreation and Community Centre offers the following programming for children:

After-school program

An after-school program for school-age children is available at the Recreation and Community Centre. For more information, please contact the Recreation and Community Centre by phone at (867) 872-4732.

Play group

A free-play time geared for children 4-and-under where the kids have the run of the gymnasium for a couple of hours. Parents are expected to be present to supervise their own children. Toys, including playmats, tricycles, climbing gym, and bouncy playground, are available.

• Cost: FREE
• Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. children 6 and under
• Fridays 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Early Childhood Programming at Tapwe House

Tapwe House is home to three early childhood programs for women and children in the community:

"Our Babies, Our Future" and "Our Kids, Our Future"

OBOF and OBOK are administered by Salt River First Nation. OBOF is part of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP). Both programs are based out of Tapwe House, located at 62 Portage Street. These comprehensive and participatory programs are designed to improve the health of mothers and children by promoting good nutrition. Activities include the drop-in program for mothers and their children, cooking circles, guest speakers, videos, and classes that address parenting, nutrition, breastfeeding, and infant care. A monthly schedule for these activities is available for pick-up at Tapwe House. For more information, please contact Helen Hudson-MacDonald at (867) 872-4100.

Healthy Families

The Healthy Families program is administered by the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority. Healthy Families is an initiative that offers parenting and child development information and support through home visitation services. For more information, please contact Amy Ryan, Supervisor of the Healthy Families program, by phone at (867) 872-4355.

Nihkanis Aboriginal Head Start Centre

A pre-school program for Dene and Metis children ages 3 and 4. Children are taught the Cree language and culture in a classroom setting.

Fort Smith Cooperative Nursery School

A pre-school program for children ages 3 and 4. For contact information, please see the list of Community Organizations.

Association des francophones de Fort Smith 

The association provides immersion nursery school programming for children ages 3 and 4, as well as an after-school program for school-age children. For contact information, please see the list of Community Organizations.

Licensed day homes

The Bean Sprouts Family Day Home

• Operator: Lesli Ann Tourangeau
• Phone: (867) 872-2682                            

Enchanted Learning Day Home

• Operator: Terry Roberts
• Phone: (867) 872-5439                                                                   

Sunny Day Care

• Operator: Min Sun
• Phone: (867) 872-5020

Kid's Klubhouse Day Home

• Operator: Keith Barton
• Phone: (867) 872-2892

For more information about child care services in Fort Smith, please contact the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.