Ask Me About EarlyON

Jemma Dooreleyers | Oct 02, 2024

I don’t think anyone has ever so perfectly captured the paradox of parenthood as Charles Dickens did when he wrote the line “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

As any parent knows, nothing will take you through the full spectrum of human emotion so quickly and so drastically than the day-to-day highs and lows of keeping a living, breathing, screaming, laughing, hungry piece of your heart alive and happy.

As any parent knows, nothing can prepare you for this.

I have an almost 3-year-old and when I am in the thick of it, I like to think back (and shake my head) at something I said to my oldest sister (oldest of six and mother of five) when I was 8 months pregnant.

“I feel like parents stress too much about what a baby needs and how to best take care of them, especially when they are newborn, they just need to eat, sleep, be changed and repeat about every 3 hours, how hard can it be?”

Oh, to be so naive.

My son was born four days after that, five weeks premature. It was November 2021 and the height of one of the waves of COVID-19. He stayed in the NICU for five days but due to the pandemic policy at the time, my partner and I (both barely 22), could only see him for three hours a day. That was hard. Every day after that has been hard in ways I didn’t fathom before becoming a parent.

And not having anyone besides my partner I could relate to about the struggle, made things so much more difficult. There is something about being awake at 3:30 in the morning with a baby that won’t go back to sleep that can make you feel like the only person in the world.

Thank goodness, when my son was five months old, I found EarlyON.

EarlyON, as described on the Government of Ontario’s website is a publicly funded program designed for families with children between the ages of zero and six. They are a free place where you can “join activities such as reading, storytelling, sing-alongs and games, get advice from professionals trained in early childhood development, find out about other family services in your community and connect with other families with young children.”

There are approximately 900 EarlyON locations across the province and while the EarlyON locations in Kingston were handy to drop into while running errands in town, it wasn’t until I learned about the EarlyON centres run by Rural Frontenac Community Services that I truly felt a part of my community as a parent.

RFCS offers a playgroup in ten locations throughout North, South Frontenac and there is a place to go every day of the week. There is a knowledgeable and passionate small group of staff that make an effort to get to know you and your child and do their best to make you feel good by the end of the visit. They ask about our days, listen and offer advice about any given struggle and celebrate the wins, no matter how seemingly small.

Visiting an RFCS EarlyON centre quickly became part of our daily routine and getting ready and out of the house to talk with other adults in the same boat became priceless. I loved it so much that I started working as a part-time casual facilitator in the South Frontenac locations in April 2023 and being able to give even a little bit the support or relief to a parent that I received when my son was so young, is so valuable.

I can go on all day about the beauty of the RCFS EarlyON programs, but I thought there was someone better to talk to about the spirit of rural EarlyON and the passion put into the program. You might know her, my co-worker, Marcie Webster.

Marcie has been a Sharbot Laker for her entire life and just celebrated her 33rd anniversary working as an Early Childhood Educator for RFCS. Throughout her career, she has seen it all and been there through the reorganization of the agency and restructuring of programs. Yet, the amount of energy she brings to the program every day is amazing to witness. Here is a conversation I had with her about EarlyON and why we love it so much. Question are in bold – MW refers to Marcie Webster.

Why did you want to work with children in the first place?

MW: I thought it would be a fun job to do. But a year into it that changed. It’s still fun to do, but what drew me into really enjoying the job was seeing the development of the children succeeding. And knowing that I had a little part in that.

When you became a parent, did your perception of EarlyON change?

MW: I now had lived experiences. It was easier to talk to other parents about their challenges and their successes because we were all on the same kind of journey together. The way I perceived it did change because I went from being very involved and supportive with children to realizing that the parents really need support. And I know they need support because I did. It made me realize that these programs are just as important for the caregivers as they are for the children. It was after I had my children that I realized these programs support families and through supporting families, I am supporting my peers and giving back to my community.

Building on that community aspect, how does it feel, still going to work in your community and seeing those babies that you started with grown up and also maybe having their own babies?

MW: Oh, geez. What is the feeling? It's just, it's surreal because I don't feel old enough. especially while I'm in programming, to be able to see, another generation coming back to the program. And then having them actually remember me and remember my name and remember the community playgroup they went to at the Bedford Hall, because it's now Glendower Hall. I appreciate it and I feel really good that, that obviously I must have somehow been a part of their lives if they still remember me, like, 30 years after, you know, coming to one of my programs.

MW: I keep it up because I know it's important. And I really do love my job. I have to keep up with the kids. Playing is so much fun and role modelling for parents that, you know, just because you're a grown-up doesn't mean you can't get down on the floor with your kids. Have a blast. My hope is that I am able to build relationships with parents so that they feel like I am a safe person to go to if they are having a hard time. I am passionate about child development and keeping adults supported so that they can support their families.

Why do you feel working for Rural Frontenac Community Services is different from working with another agency that offers EarlyON programming?

MW: Because my agency really gets the struggles and the determination and the resiliency and the resourcefulness of rural living and that the rural families have to go through on a daily basis. And Rural Frontenac Community Services has a lot of the resources that rural families need. All of the programs that they offer and all of the staff that work in those programs understand their struggles. So, that's what I like about our specific agency, as opposed to, you know, the agencies in the city.

Well thank you so much for talking to me and thank you, on behalf of the lonely tired parents.

MW: Well, I love my job. I can tell when a mom or a dad has had a hard morning and is just frustrated. I'm able to say ‘ you know what? I'm going to make you a coffee and how about you sit down and chat and I'll go play with your child.’ I hope they can carry that with them for the next couple days so that when they come back again, they can re-energize their batteries for another couple days.

For more information about RFCS EarlyON programming, you can find them on Facebook on or at rfcs.ca, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or register and keyon.ca. Tell the young parent in your life about RFCS EarlyON today.

EarlyOn sites include: Sydenham Centre – 4365 Mill Street, Perth Road Harris Hall 5612 Perth Road Crescent, Harrowsmith Fee Methodist Church – 3876 Harrowsmith Road, Verona Trinity United Church – 6689 Hwy. 38, Sharbot Lake Centre – 1004 Duffy road, Olden Community Centre, 1522 Mountain Grove Road.