Aleda Patterson and the Power of Community-Led Change
When Aleda Patterson came across the Head Start model while spending time in Colorado, she saw something her hometown was missing and set out to change that. She didn’t invent the idea, but she understood its power. She recognized that children in Edmonton were entering school without the support they needed to thrive, and she believed deeply that our communities could do better.
So she gathered her friends, found a space, and launched what would become ABC Head Start Society, starting with just 10 families and no government funding. That was 1985. Today, ABC supports more than 400 children and their families each year. It is a testament to what can happen when someone sees a need, believes in a solution, and rallies their community to make it real.
Rooted in Community, Built on Purpose
Aleda’s impact started long before ABC. After graduating from the University of Alberta in 1957 with a degree in education, she taught English and Physical Education at McDougall and Westmount schools. But her heart was in the broader work of helping people thrive, especially children and families.
She launched youth groups in the community, creating safe spaces for connection, mentorship, and belonging. She took in single mothers who needed a place to stay and created new programs when systems weren’t doing enough. She founded the Personal Development Centre (later known as The Support Network), which offered free family counselling and mental health support. She wasn’t afraid to do things differently or to do them herself if needed.
Aleda had what many called a “get-it-done” attitude. She had no patience for red tape when children’s futures were on the line, and she had a remarkable ability to bring people together and inspire them to take action.
“She was generous, so she wasn’t afraid to ask others to be generous too,” her son Wes said. “She didn’t take no for an answer. She was a driving force.”
A Fearless Launch
ABC’s early years were built on relationships and community trust. Aleda brought together a group of educators, social workers, and public health professionals — some of them friends and allies from her earlier work — who shared her vision and helped lay the foundation for the program. Many volunteered their time or supported the effort informally in those early days, united by a shared belief that Edmonton’s children deserved better.
The very first ABC site operated out of space donated by Elves Special Needs Society and served 10 families in its first year. Within a year, they were serving 30. By 1991, ABC was a registered society with 14 staff and stable government support.
Aleda wasn’t just building programs. She was building belonging. She knew that when children are supported, parents thrive too, and communities are better for it.
“Aleda passionately mentored her staff and volunteers, encouraging them to be creative,” said Ann Babb, a longtime friend and colleague. “She was a champion to the staff, just as she was to the children and families in the program. She created a climate that encouraged acceptance and success.”
The Scarecrow Festival: Big Fun, Bigger Impact
In the early 1990s, with government funding still uncertain, Aleda dreamed up a bold new way to keep ABC going: the Scarecrow Festival. It was imaginative, family-friendly, and wildly successful. Hosted at what was then referred to as the Agricom, it featured carnival games, a haunted house, scarecrow-building stations, and more — all volunteer-powered.
“It probably took a couple hundred people to run,” Wes recalled. “She just went ahead and made it happen. No fear.”
Over ten years, the festival raised more than $1 million for ABC Head Start Society and the Kids with Cancer Society, creating an extraordinary legacy of grassroots giving.
Ann remembered that Aleda often quoted, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” It became a guiding philosophy during ABC’s early years.
“Aleda and her staff asked for forgiveness multiple times,” Ann shared, “and because Aleda was Aleda, forgiveness was almost always granted. Her charm and strong belief in the value of ABC Head Start for children, their families, and the community of Edmonton was unwavering.”
The need for transportation for the children became obvious early on. So Aleda persuaded a small local bus company to help get children to school when transportation became a barrier. Kids arrived by bus, by cab, and even in the back seat of the company owner’s car, but they arrived. When she saw children were coming to school hungry, she found support and funding to launch a nutrition program that included food for siblings and parents too.
A Lasting Influence
“Aleda was the heart and soul of ABC Head Start,” Ann said. “Even now, her values and vision continue to shape the organization. Her legacy is not just in what she built, but in how she built it, with courage, compassion, and community.”
As we celebrate 40 years of ABC, we honour the people who made it possible. We are proud to recognize Aleda Patterson as the founder of ABC Head Start Society, and the very first hero in our orbit.
About Heroes in Orbit
Heroes in Orbit is a storytelling series from ABC Head Start Society that celebrates the everyday champions who make our mission possible. From educators and family support staff to volunteers and community partners, these are the people who lift others up, go the extra mile, and embody the heart of ABC.
In 2025, ABC Head Start Society marks 40 years of serving children and families in Edmonton. This milestone is a reminder that our journey has always been powered by community — and by heroes like the ones we celebrate here.