About Us

The Rutland Parent Participation Preschool was founded in 1983 as part of the broader Parent Participation Preschool movement, which began in British Columbia in the late 1940s with the establishment of the first Canadian Parent Participation Preschool in Vancouver in 1948. Rooted in a cooperative, grassroots philosophy, this movement emphasized the belief that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. The Rutland Parent Participation Preschool emerged from this same community-driven spirit—local families sought a nurturing, play-based learning environment where parents could take an active role in both their children’s education and the operation of the school. The preschool continues to embody these founding ideals, promoting collaboration, community involvement, and hands-on learning for children and parents alike.