Colorful watercolor painting showing three anthropomorphic creatures with animal features, standing outdoors in a lush, green landscape with trees, rolling hills, and mountains in the background.

Supporting Hornby Families

Since 1974

For over 50 years, Hornby Island Daycare has been shaped by a deep commitment to children, community, and learning through play.

What began as a small, community-led initiative has grown into a lasting space where generations of families have learned, connected, and grown together.

Illustration by Rae Mate.

The People

A stylized illustration of a person with short blue hair and a yellow face, with multiple blue petal-like shapes around the head set against a black background.
Two elderly women outdoors, one holding a microphone and reading from a paper, while the other stands beside her, smiling. They are in a backyard with a wooden fence, trees, and a bicycle visible in the background.

Sheila Jonston and Diane Smith, founders of the Hornby Island Daycare Society. Captured by Don Peterson.

Founded in 1973 by Sheila Johnston, Diane Smith, the Hornby Island Daycare took a short 12 months to come to fruition.

Since our doors opened in 1974, we have been shaped by a shared commitment to children’s learning through play and exploration.

A vision that is shared with families across our island home.

Over the decades, many dedicated educators have carried this vision forward.

Among them, Annie Fearman and Betty Nightingale stand out for their extraordinary contributions, holding 40 and 34 years of service respectively.

Annie had a strong belief in the value of early childhood education and encouraged and tutored many of the staff to become Early Childhood Educators.            

Betty’s musical and creative abilities brought so much joy to Hornby's children.

Annie managed the Daycare for many of those years and played a key role in expanding the program to include infants and toddlers.

Did you know?

The Hornby Island Daycare society was funded through the Local Initiatives Project Grant in 1974 then grew into the programs we know today

Illustration of a woman with blue hair, yellow face, and light blue clothing, surrounded by large blue flowers with black outlines.
A woman with gray hair and glasses holding a bouquet of flowers outdoors.
A woman wearing glasses and a floral dress playing a mandolin and singing into a microphone, with a man in a hat and glasses playing keyboard in the background.

Annie Fearman and Betty Nightingale shaped the centre to be what it is today. Captured by Don Peterson.

A large diverse group of people, including children and adults, gathered outdoors on stairs and standing on a green lawn, smiling for a group photo in front of a building with a wooden and metal exterior on a sunny day.

Teddybear Picnic 2025, 50 Years of Hornby Island Daycare Society. Captured by Don Peterson.

Before becoming part of the $10-a-day ChildCareBC program in 2018, the Daycare relied heavily on community fundraising to keep its doors open.

Annie and Betty were at the heart of these efforts.

Together with the Board, staff, parents, and friends, they organized large-scale auctions that became a major fixture in the community. Lively, full-day gatherings that brought people together in support of the Daycare.

Other fundraisers became beloved traditions as well.

Six Community Cook Books were released over the decades, alongside the annual Strawberry Tea and Fashion Show at Seabreeze Lodge, which became a much-anticipated event, complete with local partnerships, strawberry shortcake, and appearances from graduating students in their Grad attire.

Annie and Betty retired in June 2025 and were celebrated at the Teddy Bear Picnic, marking the Daycare’s 50th year of operation. A reflection of the lasting impact they have had on generations of children and families.

Black and white photo of five women sitting and standing together indoors, smiling at the camera, with striped curtains in the background.
A digital illustration of a blue flower with a yellow center, featuring five rounded petals.
A group of people gathered outdoors near a rustic building, with two men in the foreground. One man is holding a plate or bowl up in the air, and the other man appears to be holding a newspaper and a long object, possibly a stick or tool. The background features trees and a crowd that appears to be at a social gathering or event.
Three young girls dressed in vintage clothes standing outdoors on grass, smiling at the camera.

Early Staff, A Community Auction, and the HIDS Fashion show by Bob Cain.

A woman with curly hair smiling and sitting on a table in a cluttered arts and crafts room with art supplies, paintings, and a ladder in the background.
A woman pointing a gun at another person with curly hair in a room under construction.
A parade float with children and adults, decorated with balloons and banners, featuring a woman in a cape waving, and people dressed in casual clothing, outdoors under a clear sky.
Children gathered outdoors in a shaded area, some sitting on the grass, wearing summer clothes and hats, with a few standing and interacting, under a wooden post with trees in the background, captured in a black and white photograph.
Child wearing homemade goggles made from paper and toilet paper rolls in a classroom or craft area.
A white wooden house on wheels with multiple windows, situated outdoors on a gravel surface, surrounded by trees and other vehicles.
Group of people sitting on grass having a picnic outdoors, with some food, plates, and baskets around them.
Group of young children sitting and standing together for a photo in a classroom or studio setting, some smiling and making gestures.
Black and white photo of children and adults on a vintage truck decorated for a preschool parade, with signs and children's drawings, surrounded by trees and other vehicles.

Building for the next generation.

The Hornby Island Daycare was first housed in the old school, now known as the Betty Smith Centre.

Built in 1889, it was the second-oldest one-room schoolhouse in BC, and had sat unused for many years, falling into disrepair.

Under the guidance of Michael MacNamara, a team restored the structure in a little under a year, facilitating the Daycare to open its doors in 1974.

A shirtless man wearing sunglasses, jeans, and a belt is standing on a raised platform, smiling and raising one arm. Other individuals are in the background: one man is chopping something on a cutting board, and a woman is sitting and talking. The photo is black and white.

A fresh coat of paint for the old schoolhouse, 1974. Bob Cain.

When the new Elementary School was built in 1983, the Daycare moved into the larger original one-room schoolhouse where it remains today.

The Schoolhouse was built in the 1950s by George Cowie, and was once considered one of the most modern schools in BC.

Black and white photo of two school buildings, one old built in 1889 and one new built in 1950, on Hornby Island, with grass and trees around.

Archival Image by Bob Cain.

Digital illustration of a stylized lion's face in orange, yellow, and black colors with a minimalist design.

In 2018, Michael McNamara returned to design an extension to the building. Our new Infant Toddler room was built by his team at Blue Sky Design.

This included two Daycare alumni, Storm and Charlie Lampman, and offered a full-circle moment for the community. The addition sits seamlessly alongside the original structure.

Most recently, we’ve completed a state-of-the-art playground which is enjoyed daily by our staff and children.

To this day our Daycare continues to operate on School District 71 grounds, and we are lucky to pay an annual rent of $1, reflecting the community support that has sustained us through decades.

The Catkin Yard at the Hornby Island Daycare. Includes a wooden fence, trees, a small lawn, a play area for children, and a schoolhouse with a wooden exterior and multiple windows.
Children playing outside on a grassy area in the Acorn Yard of Hornby Island Daycare. Equipped with playground equipment, a building with a large window, trees, and a wooden fence surrounding the play area.

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