ela statement regarding program closures

After 23 years of serving children and families in our community, Eramosa Learning Academy (ELA) has made the difficult decision not to extend our third-party operator agreements with the Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB). This impacts the six before and after school programs at Sacred Heart, St. Francis, St. John, St. Ignatius, St. Paul and St. Patrick, as well as the early learning centre at St. Patrick. This decision was not made lightly; it reflects growing operational challenges, including a documented shortage of qualified educators and a focus on promised new spaces rather than high-quality care under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC or “$10/day child care) program.

It has been a privilege to be part of the lives of families in Guelph and Wellington County, delivering high-quality early learning and supporting children’s growth for more than two decades. We are deeply proud of the inclusive and rich learning environments our educators have created over the years. 

ELA is profoundly grateful for the excellent partnership it has had with the WCDSB. As the school board begins the process of searching for a new 2026-2027 school year operator for each before and after school location, and a new early learning operator to begin this summer, we will make every effort to assist in a smooth transition once the new operator is announced.

Our priority remains supporting families, children, and staff through this transition with transparency, care, and professionalism.

Noma Vales, Owner & Operator