The history of Wind & Tide is indelibly stamped in its staff, families and programs. Guided by our Founding Director Rachel Cram; daughter of Early Childhood Educator, Muriel Endersby, Wind & Tide has operated for three decades and expanded to include 30 Preschool Campuses, 6 Childcare Campuses, and 2 School Age Care Campuses across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. From the very start, Wind & Tide preschools embodied a philosophy of exceptional education coupled with loving family-like care.
In January 1987, dedicated to her vision of developing a purposeful and holistic curriculum for preschool-aged children, Rachel Cram opened the doors to her first Wind & Tide Preschool in the sunny basement of her White Rock home. Within five years, the demand for her Preschool prompted the need to open a second and third school in White Rock in 1991 and South Surrey in 1993. Each new location offered the same quality programming that Wind & Tide was quickly becoming known for and was staffed by trusted teachers who worked alongside, and trained directly under Rachel. Throughout the 1990s, Wind & Tide continued to expand, opening two more locations in Surrey and South Surrey. Believing in the importance of shaping our own path, our growth has always been intentionally paced by demand, choosing to open preschools in those communities where we were invited or sought out by families. Staying true to Wind & Tide's founding vision, we have never desired to expand too quickly or beyond our reputation.
Having built a solid reputation of being a preschool of choice, Wind & Tide's paced expansion continued well into the new millennium. Between 1999 and 2009, we opened the doors to campus locations in Langley, Cloverdale, Maple Ridge, Delta and the Fraser Valley. This expansion not only provided families greater accessibility to our schools and programs, but it also opened the door to grow our teaching faculty and Administrative team.
Although this was a period of remarkable growth for Wind & Tide, we remained committed to exploring new programs for our students and their families, and finding ways to enhance our existing programs. As a result, Wind & Tide embarked on a new endeavour and launched its After School Programs (now named Development Programs), offering literacy, public speaking and leadership classes for school-aged children, giving us the opportunity to continue teaching our students well beyond their preschool years.
In September 2010, Wind & Tide opened its first Childcare Centre. Branching out into childcare was a natural extension of the skills and reputation developed and refined over the previous two decades. Since 2010, we have opened five more Centres and continue to explore future opportunities in the communities in which we serve.
Expanding beyond the classroom, Wind & Tide introduced its Family Life Workshops in 2013. Exclusively for parents, educators, and caregivers, these seminars - presented by acclaimed doctors, psychologists and mentors, are designed to provide meaningful wisdom and insightful information on topics related to parenting, child development and family life. In January 2019, Wind & Tide launched Family 360 Podcast to better reach, educate and support our families and communities on trending topics and conversations that explore life together.
Regardless of our size or stature, we are proud to provide an educational journey for young children that boasts exceptional care, quality education, and trusted curriculum, taught by devoted and talented educators who are highly trained and love to teach and care for children.
January 2022 marks Wind & Tide's 35th Anniversary! We are grateful for the continued growth of our company, schools, programs and to the wonderful children and families who have played an instrumental part in our story. We look forward to our ongoing journey as we continue to work within communities and families, providing nurturing care and education for children who will make a difference.