Help Build a Launchpad for Early Learning
ABC Head Start Society is building a welcoming, inclusive campus in West Edmonton — a long-term home where children with diverse learning, developmental, and behavioural needs can grow, belong, and thrive.
40 Years of Building Brighter Futures
For more than four decades, ABC Head Start Society has been helping children build brighter futures.
We provide inclusive, high-quality early learning programs for children aged three to five, designed to support social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development during the most critical years of life.
But learning does not happen in isolation. At ABC Head Start Society, our work extends beyond the classroom. We integrate wraparound supports for families — including health, nutrition, and family services — because we know a child’s success is deeply connected to the well-being of their caregivers and home environment.
For four decades, our approach has helped children gain the confidence, skills, and support they need to thrive in school and in life.
“Every child
deserves
the best possible
start regardless of
background,
ability, or
circumstance.”
Now, we have an opportunity to create something transformational: a permanent West Campus designed to support children who need stability, specialized programming, and a place to belong. ABC’s case for support describes this as part of a broader campaign to create both a permanent west-end home and long-term sustainability for growth.
A Place Where Children Can Shine
Rilo's early years were challenging. He was mostly non-verbal and struggled to communicate his needs. As his frustration grew, so did the misunderstandings around him. By the time he was three, Rilo had been expelled from three daycares, each move reinforcing the feeling that he didn't belong.
His mom remembers those years as overwhelming. She was bounced between specialists, searching for answers, support, or even reassurance - but was offered none. With every appointment, hope felt further out of reach.
Everything changed when Rilo entered ABC Head Start.
Within just a few months, he began speaking. His mom recalls a moment that still stands out vividly.
After a visit to the school park, followed by ice cream, Rilo looked up at her, beaming with joy, and said simply:
"I'm happy, Mom."
For the first time, she knew - truly knew - that they had found a place where her son was understood, supported, and finally felt he belonged.
Today, Rilo is 13. He is polite, expressive, and thriving.
He is now in his second year in a mainstream classroom, fully integrated and doing incredibly well. His mom shares that he loves to learn and looks forward to going to school - a future that once felt uncertain, now full of possibility.
Rilo's early years were challenging...
Blast Off: A New West Campus for ABC Head Start
With nearly 7,000 square feet of total usable space, this west end site allows us to intentionally design classrooms and shared spaces that support inclusive early learning, specialized services, and strong relationships.
“We have adapted for decades.
Now we have the opportunity to
create a stable learning
environment for ABC children.”
Once renovated, the campus will include:
Four fully equipped early learning classrooms designed for inclusive, play-based programming
Specialized spaces for speech-language, occupational therapy, and behavioural support
A welcoming family reception and waiting area to ensure a warm, accessible experience
Private meeting rooms for family engagement and social work support
A multipurpose space for parenting workshops, family programming, and community partnerships
Staff collaboration and planning areas to strengthen our interdisciplinary model
Child-friendly washrooms and accessibility features throughout
Potential access to adjacent green space for outdoor play and sensory learning
Centre 170 is a true launchpad, purposefully designed to support children as they reach for the stars.
ABC Head Start’s West Campus is located in a high-need area, this new site sits within neighbourhoods with a high concentration of young children, single-parent families, and households facing economic challenges.
This community needs ABC. A stable campus ensures we can be present, reliable, and responsive - today and into the future.
You can help children reach for the stars
A $2.5 million campaign to build a launchpad—and power what comes next
Delivering this level of inclusive care requires more than expertise — it requires stability. When classrooms are temporary or spread across short-term spaces, it becomes harder to sustain the consistent supports and relationships children need to thrive.
Children are full of potential. With the right environment, they build confidence, strengthen communication, and develop a true sense of belonging.
Together, we can help children across Edmonton’s west end reach for the stars — and build brighter futures.
Build ABC’s West Campus Launchpad | $1 million
ABC Head Start Society has secured a building in west Edmonton — a long-term home that brings four classrooms together under one roof.
Your support will help renovate and fully equip the space for a September 2026 opening, allowing children to begin learning in a purpose-built environment for the 2026–2027 program year. A space designed for inclusion, connection, and growth.
Build a Rocket of Sustainability | $1.5 million
The need for ABC’s programs continues to grow — and so does the opportunity to reach more Edmonton families.
This investment ensures ABC Head Start can meet that need sustainably by:
Expanding capacity to serve more children and families
Extending services into underserved areas of Edmonton
Introducing kindergarten programming, offering a third year of early learning before children transition to Grade 1
Help build the launchpad. Power what comes next.
A Campaign Made Possible by Our Community Partners
We are deeply grateful to have received a grant from the Eldon and Anne Foote Fund through the Edmonton Community Foundation. We want to express our thanks for their generosity and leadership support of ABC Head Start Society’s West Campus project.
As our Lead Donor, their investment is helping turn this vision into reality — creating a stable, welcoming space where children with diverse learning, developmental, and behavioural needs can grow, belong, and thrive.
Their early support is helping build momentum for this campaign and inspiring others to join us in creating a lasting home for children and families in West Edmonton.
Thank you.
