1978

Vermilion Play Development registers as a non-profit society

and operates as a playschool embracing the "learning through play"

style of programming.

​1984

Vermilion Play Development becomes a registered charity in Canada

​1995

Debbie Smith becomes Program Director of Playschool and with it brings her child specific programming focusing on development through play and complimenting the program with her love for children and families.

​2006

Playschool is moved from the Heritage Building in Vermilion to Vermilion Elementary School.  Debbie Smith sees the need for a place for school age children to go after school and opens Kids Korner After School Care in Vermilion Elementary School with Darla Snow, which becomes the very first licensed out of school care in Vermilion.

​2009

Debbie Smith sees the need for Playschool to have longer hours to serve the communities need for families to have available spaces for their children all day.  Our license was changed to accommodate longer hours while keeping our distinctive playschool programming. Both Programs began the accreditation process with Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services.

​2011

Vermilion Play Development and Kids Korner both receive their accreditation which is a process of creating goals to meet standards in Early Learning and Childcare.

​2013

After seeing the incredible need for childcare in Vermilion, Vermilion Play Development agrees to add Lakeland College Daycare to our programs.  VPD Early Learning Lakeland is opened and licensed with Debbie Smith as Program Director and begins the accreditation process.

​2014

Kids Korner After School Care moves into JR Robson as Vermilion Elementary School needs more space for their growing population.

​2015

VPD Early Learning Lakeland (also called "The Arc")  becomes accredited.

​2016

Debbie Smith retires from Vermilion Play Development Program as staff , families and children are grateful for the love, time and care she put into everything she did.  We hold on to her vision of learning through play, willingness to evolve our programming to care for children and families and the love she so strongly believed "grew brains".  We will do our best to carry these out everyday.

2019

KINDERCARE program is opened, located at Vermilion Elementary School, for Kindergarten children.  A program where kinders can play and learn in this transitional year.

2021

Vermilion Play Development introduces Flight- Alberta's Early Learning and Care Curriculum framework into all areas of our programming, Accreditation standards are turned over into licensing standards through Alberta's child care licensing authority.