After winning a provincial award for outstanding child development in early December, a daycare in Red Deer is once again a finalist for three awards.  

Tiny Toes Castle Ltd. has been recognized for their innovative and creative approaches to their work.  

When Red Deer welcomed Syrian refugees, sisters and owners Annie, Alvina and their mom Faiza Zaidi decided to incorporate it into their programming as part of community building.

Alvina says they taught the children about what it means to be a refugee, teaching them compassion and empathy.

“We had a backpack activity so the children were given a backpack and were told they had five minutes to gather up anything they wanted to put in their backpack and that we would have to leave. We only left our classroom and came into the reception and one of the kindergarteners actually said well I wonder how the Syrian children must have felt.”

Annie says she's humbled to be nominated for three categories within the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction including Diversity Leadership, Employer of Persons with Disability and Employer of Youth.

“We’re just really honoured because when you do community work whether it involves volunteering or doing fundraisers, any type of community work that you do. The main idea is to help people the main idea is not to look for recognition. The people that you’re helping, you want to make their lives better.”

After opening in 2010, Tiny Toes Castle has since supported over 12 organizations annually.

The awards will be announced on February 24, at Reniassance Edmonton Airport Hotel in Edmonton.

Event information can be found on the awards website www.abbusinessawards.com.

More information on Tiny Toes Castle Ltd. can be found on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/TinyToesCastleRD.