Our story

Built by families, for families, since 1994

It started with families who believed

Founded in 1994 by a passionate group of families who wanted to see their children thrive, Pacekids Programs has supported thousands of children and families across Calgary. Today, we offer an Alberta Education licensed Early Childhood Services (ECS) preschool and kindergarten program, along with Community & In-Home (C&IH) programs funded through Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD).

We support children ages 2 to 10 with diverse needs, diagnosed or suspected, including autistic children and children with speech delays, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, Down syndrome, brain injury, hearing loss, blindness, and other developmental delays and disabilities.

Why we do what we do

Our mission

To empower children with diverse needs and their families through excellence in therapy, education, and play.

Our vision

A community where all children with diverse needs and their families thrive, and where every child is celebrated.

Our values

The principles behind everything we do as an organization.

Integrity

We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, acting with honesty and fairness in everything we do.

Respect

We honour the rights, beliefs, and cultures of every child, family, and partner, and treat everyone with dignity, equality, and trust.

Accountability

We take responsibility for our work and follow through on our commitments to children, families, and each other.

Collaboration

We work alongside families, our team, community partners, and funders as one united team, moving toward shared goals for every child.

Learning

We believe in lifelong learning for everyone, from the children we support to the families and team members who grow alongside them.

Our journey

From six children in 1994 to 700 families each year, Pacekids has always met each child and family where they are through therapy, education, and play. Here are the milestones that shaped our journey.

The first Pacekids school

Pacekids first welcomed families at our McLeod Trail location, where three classrooms served 36 children through our Early Childhood Services program. As more families reached out, we quickly outgrew the 5,500 sq ft space. This cozy building showed what was possible and set the stage for our next chapter.

A place to grow

Our move to 55th Avenue NE marked an exciting new chapter for Pacekids. We opened with 64 children in four classrooms across 14,000 sq ft. As demand for our programs continued to grow, so did we. By 2023, we had expanded to 18,000 sq ft and seven classrooms, supporting 146 children and their families.

Building our future

Pacekids moved into our current Sunridge location, welcoming over 200 children across nine operational classrooms. With sensory rooms, gym space, and room to play, the new space let our team do even more for every child, marking the beginning of a bigger vision, as plans for a larger, purpose-built space began to take shape.

2011 - 2013

2014 - 2024

2025 - Present

Our strategy

Behind every classroom and home visit is a plan that guides how we grow, invest, and serve children and families across Calgary.