Meet the Team!

Hello! I'm Larysa, one of your educators at Little Forest Dwellers.

I have my Early Childhood Development Diploma and Child Development Supervisor Certificate from Grant MacEwan in Edmonton. I've worked in many different school type environments as an Educational Assistant. These placements ranged from specific special needs centres, home based therapy and in public and private schools. I have also taken courses and attended conferences to enhance my learning surrounding young children with many needs.

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I am also a mother of 2 older children, and I spends lots of hours in rinks watching them play hockey and ringette. My family and I enjoy camping in the summer, going for walks and spending time with our extended family in and out of town. I also enjoy Ukrainian dancing and ballet classes with an adult group. I grew in a small town where I enjoyed exploring in the forest behind my house. Many days were spent bringing home buckets of rocks, frogs and many other creatures that I had to return to their homes. I am looking forward to explore nature with the children from their perspective of the environment.

Hello! My name is Emelia. I am very excited to be continuing my career in childcare with Little Forest Dwellers. I have been working with children since high school, volunteering and doing summer camps in the summers. I have a diploma in Elementary Education from Red Deer Polytechnic.

I love working with children, they are always so joyful and free, they challenge growth in such a positive way. I think the best part about being an educator is seeing the children learn and grow from the example we set as educators. In my free time I like to watch television, preferably comedy shows and watching football live, I’m a big fan of Calgary Stampeders!

I’m Laura, a preschool teacher at Little Forest Dwellers. I have my level 3 early childhood diploma. I graduated with a business degree in marketing in 2016, mainly interested in the non-profit sector. I stumbled into early childhood education and have been in love with it ever since, it feels like it’s what I was made to do! I love following the lead of the children, supporting them in their learning and growth, and teaching important life skills. I have been in the early childhood education field as a preschool teacher for over 7 years now. I have some family in Calgary, but only live with my cat right now. I love cats and other animals too! I also like to explore outdoors on hikes, paint, knit, crochet, journal, downhill ski, and exercise.

My name is Parvinder Chahal. I have been working as a childcare staff for 7 years. I am originally from India and I speak English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu languages fluently. I have completed my Early Childhood Certificate (level 3) from Grande Prairie Regional College (Northwestern Polytechnic). I also hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Punjab University and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Punjab Technical University. Before coming to Canada, I was a teacher in India, where I taught grade 3 to10 children in a high school. I love to take care of children. In my previous jobs, I have had the opportunity to work with children of various abilities. As a mom myself to a 9-year-old boy, I understand the developmental needs of children very closely. My hobbies are knitting and cooking. I often knit sweaters for my son, and I love to experiment with different types of foods in the kitchen. I also enjoy watching comedy movies. I plan to make working in the Child Development area my life-long journey,
and I look forward to being a successful childcare provider in the long term.

Hi I’m Aimee,

A little something about myself is that I’ve been working with children since I was a kid myself, starting out as a jr. coach at the age of 12 for gymnastics then moved into a competitive and recreational gymnastics/rock climbing coach with a little dabble in daycare teaching through the years as well. 

I have my bachelor’s degree of science in kinesiology and hope to one day become a pediatric physiotherapist to rehabilitate kids to allow them to get back to what they do best, which is playing and being crazy (: I also have my level 1 early child education and am working towards my level 2 certification!

If I’m not in the classroom you can find me catching a lift at the gym, climbing some rocks, reading a book, or hanging out with family and friends!

I love being around kids because of their carefree, imaginative, and creative minds. I love watching them learn as they experience each and every day.

My goal is to be a role model for them and to help them learn and grow into the best people they can be with my time here at LFD. 

Hi, I’m Jaela, 

I have been working with children for more than 6 years and at LFD during the summers for 3 years. I am passionate about child development and providing a safe, warm, and fun environment for them to thrive. I love getting to know each child and watching them grow and learn at such a rapid pace. 

I took general studies at the University of Victoria for a few semesters but ultimately decided Calgary is where my heart is—and so I returned home. I am currently a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator and look forward to continuing my studies.

Hello, I’m Miranda ♡. 

This is my second year working part-time at Little Forest Dwellers. I am in the second year of my early learning and childcare bachelor's degree at Mount Royal University. 

As an early childhood educator, I am dedicated to nurturing young minds in a supportive, respectful, and kind environment. 

My approach is rooted in family values, fostering strong relationships, and encouraging children to grow with empathy and joy. I aim to inspire children to explore their world confidently and compassionately, promoting a safe and stimulating space for learning and discovery. I love collaborating and connecting with parents to ensure every child feels valued and understood. My passions include yoga, art, music, reading, working out and, most importantly, tobogganing. 

My name is Darci Anderson, and I am very excited to be a part of the Little Forest Dwellers team! I love working with children, I have experience babysitting, teaching toddlers how to dance, and I have over 4 years of experience being a nanny. I graduated from Bow Valley College in December of 2023 and I have my Early Childhood Education and Development diploma. At Little Forest Dwellers I thrive to be an educator who creates a safe, welcoming environment for every child, to support each child as they play, learn, and develop. Some fun facts about me are that I love to dance, I have been a dancer since I was 3 years old. I love going to concerts and music festivals. I enjoy doing interior decorating and have my diploma in Interior Decorating from Bow Valley College. I am a dog lover and my favourite colour is hot pink!

Hi, I'm Sandra.

I'm a casual educator at Little Forest Dwellers and a full time Mom to 3 children and 2 fur babies.

I have an Early Childhood Education Certificate from Mount Royal, a BA from the University of Alberta, and a Petroleum Land Administration Diploma from Mount Royal. Prior to becoming a Mom, I was a Mineral Land Administrator, and before that I was a Before and After School Care Program Coordinator with the YMCA. I am passionate about making a difference in children's lives and believe that by providing them with positive experiences now, it will set the stage for their success and happiness long-term.

A fun fact about me is that I still keep my favorite childhood teddy bear 'Coco' on my bed!