
I grew up in Bangladesh and bring with me a strong sense of family support, cultural connection, resilience, and a passion for building meaningful connections with people. I studied social work at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work.
I now work for the East End Children Centre as a Program Co-ordinator at Kimbourne and Terry Fox. I have been involved in EarlyOn programing for over two decades, as a community worker passionate about inclusion and creating safe spaces for all families.
I have a strong love for sports and was a national–level badminton player back home in Bangladesh. Outside of my athletics and professional world, I am a mother of two wonderful children and enjoy life with my supportive husband.
I’m grateful to be working for East End Children Centre and proud to be a member of our organization’s team!

Anna is an RECE and has been with EECC as a Program Co-ordinator since 2013.
She works at Terry Fox and Kimbourne, including Baby Time! She is passionate about working with children and families because she finds it incredibly rewarding to support their growth and development. She enjoys seeing the positive impact her dedicated care and attention have on children’s lives.
Born in China, Anna immigrated to Canada over 20 years ago and is always ready to help families who speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

I was born in Tanzania and moved to Canada when I was 13.
I graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2024 and have been working as a registered Early Childhood Educator ever since. Before becoming an ECE, I spent many years babysitting and working with kids n different settings, and I’ve always loved helping them learn, explore, and grow. I especially enjoy running STEM activities and getting to know families from all different walks of life.
I’m fluent in Swahili and Kutchi, and when I’m not at the centre, you can usually find me spending time with my two cats, enjoying nature, or painting.

I’m Cathy! I found East End Children’s Centre over 35 years ago when my first child was a toddler! I’m now a mom of three adult sons.
I served on EECC’s Board of Directors back in the day, before joining the staff team. As Manager, I’m incredibly proud of the work our team of staff and board members do!
I love that for 40 years, participants, staff and board members have and continue to co-create an organization so loved by the community!
At home, I’m a caregiver to my youngest son. At both work and home, I have an intense interest in accessibility and inclusion. While there is not a lot of time for personal interests and hobbies, I love researching my lineage.

I’m an RECE who just graduated from TMU’s Early Childhood Studies program.
I love to create engaging program acticities and see the children thrive in their environments. Outside of EECC, I am an avid reader and enjoy watching Asian dramas!

Hi! I’m Jenny — an early childhood educator with a Master’s degree in Business Administration; yep, a mix of crayons and spreadsheets! I absolutely love working with kids and being part of their learning and growth journey. Watching little minds explore the world is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
I’m also a big fan of meeting people from all walks of life. Exploring new cultures and connecting with others is something that truly lights me up. When I’m not in the classroom or deep in conversation, you’ll probably find me baking something sweet, hitting a trail, biking through nature, or relaxing with a fishing rod in hand.
Life’s an adventure, and I’m here for all the learning, laughter, and good food along the way!

Guided by a holistic approach, Carlijn serves as a program assistant at Kimbourne some Saturdays.
She uses creative learning and the arts to build safe, expressive foundations for young learners. Off the clock, she loves sketching, journaling, and planning “cafe hops” for her group of friends.

Hi, I’m William.
I’m a Grade 12 co-op student from Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts and currently completing a 5 month placement here at East End Children’s Centre.
I am a non-speaking autistic who communicates with augmented & alternative communication (AAC).
While my brain is fully capable, I experience difficulty with planned movement and sensory processing. These differences affect my speech and physical coordination, but not my intelligence. Many people mistakenly believe that those with similar differences are unable to think. I invite you to have a conversation with me to see that’s not the case.
I work closely with my communication assistant, Giorgena, who helps facilitate meaningful interactions during my time here. I communicate most effectively using a letter board and iPad with a text-to-speech app or a keyboard for typing.
Things that might surprise you about me
You might be surprised to learn that I love writing stories and telling jokes. The kitchen is my favourite place to experiment and you can be sure to see me at the newly renovated kitchen here at EECC. I love to travel – I’ve met my pen pal Marcus in the USA, Austria, Switzerland and Mexico. He lives in Brazil. I’m proud to say that I really enjoy my high school and will graduate with Honours next year. I can’t wait to show everyone what nonspeaking autistics are really made of; in the meantime, feel free to check out my friends Hari Srinivasan and Gregory Tino to learn more.

My name is Theodora Vounotripidis, and I am an Early Childhood Studies student at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am currently working as a summer student at East End Children’s Centre, where I am excited to be part of the team and learn from children, families, and fellow educators.
I value building positive relationships through everyday interactions and creating a warm, supportive environment where children and families feel comfortable, included, and supported. I am looking forward to continuing to build my skills during my time at EECC. I speak Greek and outside of work and school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and reading books.