YMCA of Niagara Celebrates Official Opening of Thundering Heights Child Care Centre
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, May 21, 2026 – YMCA of Niagara, alongside community partners, families, and local leaders, celebrated the official opening and ribbon cutting of the Thundering Heights Child Care Centre on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
Located within the newly opened Thundering Heights Public School, the child care centre reflects a shared commitment between YMCA of Niagara, the District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Region, and community partners to support the growing needs of families in Niagara Falls through accessible, licensed child care.
The event brought together provincial representatives, municipal and regional leaders, education partners, child care advocates, educators, and families connected to the centre. The celebration included remarks from community partners and parents, an official ribbon cutting, and opportunities for families and guests to tour the space.
“Thundering Heights Child Care Centre is exactly the kind of affordable child care investment families need. Investing in childcare spaces is real cost of living improvement for Niagara Falls families – it provides lower fees and opportunities for parents to return to work knowing their young children are taken care of”.
–WAYNE GATES, MPP FOR NIAGARA FALLS
Wayne Gates, MPP for Niagara Falls with Roxanne Lewis, Child Care Regional Director, YMCA of Niagara
Satinder Klair, Director of Children's Services, Niagara Region
Child Care Parents, Manoharan Aravind and Divya Aravind
The centre offers licensed infant, toddler, and preschool child care, along with before and after school programming for school-aged children.
“The Thundering Heights Child Care Centre was created to help meet the growing need for licensed child care in Niagara Falls, offering families access to full-day child care and before and after school programming within a welcoming and connected school community,” said Christian Wulff, CEO of YMCA of Niagara. “Access to child care is an important building block for economic inclusion, helping families participate more fully in their communities while creating strong foundations for children to learn, grow, and thrive. We’re proud to work alongside our partners to provide spaces where children and families feel supported every day.”
–CHRISTIAN WULFF, CEO, YMCA OF NIAGARA
Ribbon Cutting [left to right] Maria Passero, Community Outreach Coordinator, Permit and Rental Services DSBN; Wayne Gates, MPP for Niagara Falls; Christian Wulff, CEO, YMCA of Niagara; Joyce Morocco, Regional Councillor Niagara Falls; Shannon Mitchell, Niagara Falls Board of Trustees / Wayne Gates Office; Lori Lococo, Niagara Falls City Councillor; Satinder Klair, Director of Children’s Services, Niagara Region
Beyond the partnerships and shared investment behind the project, the centre is already making a difference for local families. For parents Divya and Manoharan Aravind, whose 10-month-old daughter attends the centre, the impact is already being deeply felt.
“Every day when we drop her off, we feel reassured knowing she’s in such loving and capable hands,” said Divya. “The kindness, patience, and dedication your team shows truly mean a lot to our family. Thank you for creating such a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment for our daughter and other little kids. The impact you make on families is huge, and we are genuinely grateful for everything you do.”
Manoharan added, “The YMCA has truly been a game changer for our family. We also have other children attending YMCA Child Care, and the care that has been provided there has been phenomenal.”
–MANOHARAN ARAVIND AND DIVYA ARAVIND, CHILD CARE PARENTS
The Thundering Heights Child Care Centre is part of YMCA of Niagara’s ongoing commitment to supporting children, youth, and families across the region through licensed child care, education partnerships, and community-based programming. As Niagara continues to grow, partnerships like this help create welcoming spaces where children can build confidence, families can feel supported, and communities can continue to thrive.
Media contact:
YMCA of Niagara: Jen Schmaltz, General Manager, Marketing and Communications
[email protected] | 904-246-7478
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