✓
Clearer path
Know what matters first, what can wait, and how to move forward without feeling lost.
A warmer, safer, more supported wayto build your day home.
❤
Fairer support
Build with guidance, honest communication, and a more human process from the beginning.
⌂
Your home still feels like home
Keep the warmth and personality of your space while building with more structure and confidence.
What we actually help with
Practical support, not vague promises.
We are currently gathering serious educator applications while SMADA completes the licensing process. The goal is to help people start early instead of waiting until the last minute.
Guidance on the Level 1 ECE path
Guidance on First Aid / CPR
Readiness steps for your home
Landlord permission guidance if you rent
Documentation and record support
Resources, templates, and next-step help
For Educators
Apply now and start getting ready early
If you want to build or grow a day home, this is the right path for you right now.
○Educator application now open
○Readiness guidance, documents, and next steps
○Start early while the licensing process is being completed
For Parents
Find the right care for your child
If you are looking for safe, warm, home-based childcare, you can start here.
○Join the parent interest list
○Ask about timing, location, and availability
○Get updates as licensing is completed
Become an Educator
A better path for experienced providers and new educators
Whether you already run a day home or you are just beginning to explore the path, SMADA is now taking educator applications while the licensing process is being completed.
A good fit if any of these sound like you:
○Existing day home provider seeking better support
○ECE who wants to build from home
○Serious beginner who wants to learn the right way from the start
○Parent exploring home-based childcare income with real guidance
You do not need every step finished before you reach out. If this path is seriously on your heart, apply now and we will help you sort the real order.
What happens after you apply
Clear next steps. Human follow-up.
You do not need to figure everything out alone before moving forward. After you apply, we help you sort the real order.
Step 1
We review your background, timing, and readiness so you stop wondering where you stand.
Step 2
We tell you what actually matters first, what can wait, and which requirements apply to your exact situation.
Step 3
You move forward with a calmer, clearer plan instead of losing time guessing your way through it.
What to be ready for
Clear expectations from the start
We want to be honest early about what this path requires, without making serious people feel like they need everything finished before they can even reach out.
○Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search +
What it is: This confirms you are eligible to work with children in a licensed childcare setting.
What is required: A Criminal Record Check plus a Vulnerable Sector Search for you, and depending on your living situation, criminal check requirements may also apply to other adults in the home or adults regularly present.
How to get it (Calgary): You typically apply through the Calgary Police Service online application.
Start here:
Calgary Police Service online application
Important timing: Your criminal check is valid for six months. Be aware that it takes time to process and to get a new one, so apply for a new one about one month ahead. You cannot be running a day home with an invalid criminal check.
Important household note: In a family day home setting, background check requirements can extend beyond the main educator. Other adults living in the home, or adults regularly present there, may also need to complete criminal record screening.
If minors live in the home: Additional disclosure requirements may apply even where a criminal record check does not.
Why this matters: It is better to find this out early so there are no surprises later in the approval process.
Tip: Do this early. It can take time to process, and everything else depends on it.
○References, physician note, and proof of age +
What these are: These are part of the broader readiness package that agencies may require during approval.
What may be requested:
- Proof that you are at least 18 years old
- Personal references from adults who know you well and are not relatives
- A physician note or medical confirmation showing you are able to provide childcare
Why this matters: These items are not difficult, but they can slow people down if they wait too long to think about them.
Best approach: Do not panic and do not gather everything blindly. Reach out first, and we can help you understand the right order.
Tip: The goal is not to overwhelm you. The goal is to help you avoid last-minute delays.
○Valid First Aid / CPR, or readiness to complete it soon +
What it is: You need certified First Aid and CPR so you can safely respond in emergencies.
What is required: A recognized course accepted for childcare settings.
Best option: Standard Childcare First Aid with CPR (Level B or C equivalent depending on provider).
Where to book:
First Aid Training Calgary
What to look for:
- Childcare-specific course (preferred)
- Same-day certification
- In-person practical training
Tip: Do not overthink this. We can confirm the exact course before you book so you do not waste money.
○A safe and suitable home environment +
What it means: Your home must be safe, clean, and set up for supervising children.
What is usually required:
- Working smoke and CO detectors
- Safe exits and clear pathways
- Secure storage for hazards
- Clean, usable play space
Learn more:
Government of Alberta, Family Day Home Standards Manual
How to get ready: Do not try to perfect everything first. We will walk you through what matters so you can prepare step-by-step.
○If you rent, written landlord permission +
What it is: Written approval from your landlord allowing you to run a day home.
What is required: Clear written permission, not just verbal.
How to do it: Ask early and clearly. We can help you with wording and what to request so you do not get blocked later.
Downloadable forms:
○Insurance for your day home +
Why it matters: Insurance protects you, the children in your care, and the property itself if something unexpected happens.
What this means in practice: Day home operations typically carry $2 million liability coverage, which provides protection for incidents involving children or visitors while care is taking place.
Cost and concern: Many people worry that this will be expensive. In reality, this type of coverage is more affordable than most expect when set up correctly for a day home.
How we help: You do not have to figure this out alone. We guide you toward the right providers and help you avoid overpaying or choosing the wrong type of coverage.
Important: This coverage also adds a layer of protection for the property, which can help reassure landlords when granting permission.
We walk you through this step at the right time so it feels clear, manageable, and not overwhelming.
○Level 1 ECE, or willingness to complete it with guidance +
What it is: Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certification is the basic entry step for licensed childcare in Alberta.
FREE FIRST STEP. REAL ADDITIONAL PAY.
The Alberta Early Childhood Education Orientation Course is offered at no cost. Once you are certified and working eligible hours through an approved program or family day home agency, the Government of Alberta adds wage top-up funding on top of your regular pay.
How simple it can be: One common path is Alberta’s free online ECE Orientation Course. It is a straightforward entry route designed to help people get started.
Timing note: If you do not already have Level 1 certification, there may still be a period after approval to complete it. The important thing is to start early and understand your timeline clearly.
What the additional pay looks like:
- Level 1: $2.64/hour extra, up to about $477.84 more per month based on the maximum 181 eligible hours
- Level 2: $5.05/hour extra, up to about $914.05 more per month based on the maximum 181 eligible hours
- Level 3: $8.62/hour extra, up to about $1,560.22 more per month based on the maximum 181 eligible hours
What that means: This is government-funded wage top-up added over and above regular pay for eligible certified educators. The funding is calculated on eligible hours, with a current monthly maximum of 181 hours for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
How the levels build: Level 1 is the simple starting step. Level 2 is usually a 1-year early learning and childcare certificate or approved equivalent. Level 3 is usually a 2-year early learning and childcare diploma or approved equivalent.
Prior education can help: Relevant education or coursework, including education completed outside Canada, may be considered through Alberta’s certification process and educational equivalencies. For some applicants, that can make the path easier.
Why this matters: Level 1 is a simple first move that can open the door to real additional income. Then, if you choose to grow into Level 2 and Level 3, the government-funded wage top-up grows with you.
Best move now: Start early. Apply early, understand your timing, and start the easiest path first.
How to start:
Official Alberta ECE certification page
Tip: Do not let “ECE certification” sound bigger than it is. Level 1 is the entry step, the orientation course is free, and it can lead to real extra government-funded pay on up to 181 eligible hours each month.
You do not need every box checked before you reach out. If you are serious, you can apply now while SMADA completes the licensing process.
Getting Started Guide
If you’re serious, this is the smartest next move.
Open the full guide to see the real order, the real requirements, the official links, and the practical downloads that keep you from wasting time, money, or momentum.
○See what to do first so you do not get stuck or delayed
○Understand which steps apply to your situation and which ones can wait
○Get the official links, forms, and practical downloads in one place
Full step-by-step guide
The detailed breakdown for getting started
This is the fuller version of the process. Use it when you want the recommended order, practical next steps, and a clearer picture of what to do now versus later.
Recommended order
Do these in a calmer, smarter sequence
You do not need to do everything at once. The goal is the right order, not maximum stress.
✅ Step 1
Reach out first
Start with a simple application so we can understand your situation, answer questions, and guide the order of your next steps.
✅ Step 2
Confirm your home situation
Do you own your home or rent? If you rent, landlord permission matters early and should not be left until the end.
✅ Step 3
Start the Level 1 ECE path
For many people, the Alberta orientation course is the easiest first move because it is free, straightforward, and opens the door to government wage top-up.
✅ Step 4
Book the right First Aid / CPR course
Do not waste money on the wrong course. Make sure you book a course accepted for childcare settings.
✅ Step 5
Apply for your criminal check
Do this early enough that timing does not become a problem later. This is a foundational approval item.
✅ Step 6
Review insurance and home readiness with support
These are important, but they are easier and less stressful when handled in the right order with guidance.
Existing education & experience
You may already be further ahead than you think
In Alberta, you are not always starting from zero. Your education and experience are assessed, and in many cases, previous training can count toward your certification.
○Education or childcare training from another country
○Teaching degrees or classroom experience
○Psychology, social work, or related programs
○Canadian diplomas or degrees (even outside childcare)
○Previous work with children in any setting
For many applicants, this can significantly reduce the time and effort needed to become certified.
Do not assume you are starting from zero.
You may already be closer than you think, and we help you understand exactly where you stand before you spend time or money.
Before you take any courses, apply first. We’ll help you understand what actually counts.
What to do now vs later
Reduce overwhelm by separating the steps
People often get stuck because everything feels urgent. It is not. Here is the cleaner way to think about it.
Do first
○Reach out to SMADA
○Confirm whether you own or rent
○Understand the Level 1 ECE path
Do soon
○Book the right First Aid / CPR course
○Apply for the criminal record check
○Ask for landlord permission if you rent
○Think ahead about references, physician note, and proof of age
Do with support
○Choose the right insurance path
○Prepare your home for readiness standards
○Map out Level 2 and Level 3 growth later
Common mistakes
What makes people lose time
○
Waiting too long to ask the landlord
→ Ask early. This can block everything later if delayed.
○
Booking the wrong First Aid / CPR course
→ Confirm the correct course first so you don’t waste money or time.
○Assuming Level 1 is complicated
→ It’s simpler than it sounds. Start early and build momentum.
→ It’s simpler than it sounds. Start early and build momentum.
○Buying insurance too early
→ Wait until the right stage so you don’t overpay or choose the wrong coverage.
→ Wait until the right stage so you don’t overpay or choose the wrong coverage.
○Thinking only your own documents matter
→ In some cases, other adults in the home or regular household presence can affect approval too.
→ In some cases, other adults in the home or regular household presence can affect approval too.
Direct links
Official places to start
○Ask us directly about references, physician note, and household-member screening requirements
Downloads
Practical forms and support files
Download these first if you rent. They are the two files most likely to save time early.
Still unsure?
Let us help you sort the order.
You do not need to figure out the entire process before reaching out. SMADA is taking educator applications now so serious people can begin early with clarity and support.
For Parents
Warm, structured home-based care you can feel good about
Parents should not have to choose between warmth and structure. SMADA is currently completing the licensing process while building its educator network and parent interest list.
Takes less than 2 minutes. No obligation.
What families should feel
Safe. Welcomed. Informed.
We want families to feel peace when they walk in, confidence in the routines, and trust in the communication.
○A warm home environment, not a cold institutional feel
○Clear routines that help children feel secure
○Respectful, human communication with parents
○Creative, thoughtful care that still feels grounded and calm
A calm home setting, warm daily rhythm, and thoughtful care can help families feel comfortable from the very first conversation.
⌂
Home-based warmth
A setting that feels more personal, more natural, and often calmer than large crowded rooms.
✓
Clear daily structure
Children do better when the environment feels predictable, organized, and steady from day to day.
♫
Creative enrichment
Music and creativity are part of the agency identity, but always inside a bigger commitment to safe, thoughtful childcare.
Looking for care?
Join the parent interest list
Tell us your timing, area, preferred language, and what matters most for your child. We will use this to understand fit and keep you updated while SMADA completes the licensing process.
Current stage
This is an interest form, not an immediate placement promise. Right now, we are gathering parent needs, preferred areas, and language preferences so follow-up can be clearer while the licensing process is being completed.
○Ask about fit, timing, and preferred area
○Tell us what kind of care would feel right for your child
○Move to the full form when you are ready
What parents can expect
Day-to-day care should feel calm and well-run
The goal is not chaos or guesswork. It is a home daycare experience that feels warm, attentive, and organized.
○Thoughtful arrival and transition into the day
○Meals, snacks, and table routines with supervision
○Guided play, learning, and creative activity
○Rest, quiet time, and calmer transitions
○Respectful parent communication instead of confusion
What matters most
Warmth, communication, and fit.
These are usually the first things parents want to feel clear about before they decide to reach out.
Warm, personal setting
The goal is care that feels more personal and less overwhelming than a large group room, while still keeping structure, safety, and daily rhythm.
Clear communication
Parents should feel informed, respected, and not left guessing. Calm updates and honest communication are part of the standard.
Fit before pressure
You do not need to decide everything today. The first step is simply to ask about fit, timing, language, and what kind of care would feel right for your child.
○Join the parent interest list now
○Ask about fit, timing, and communication
○Receive updates as the licensing process progresses
Parent Interest Form
Join the parent interest list
Tell us your timing, city, neighbourhood, preferred language, and what matters most for your child. We will use this to understand fit and keep you updated while SMADA completes the licensing process.
○Ask about fit, timing, and preferred area
○Tell us what kind of care would feel right for your child
○Receive updates as the licensing process progresses
Current stage
This is an interest form, not an immediate placement promise. Right now, we are gathering parent needs, preferred areas, and language preferences so follow-up can be clearer while the licensing process is being completed.
Looking for care?
Join the parent interest list
Tell us your timing, city, neighbourhood, preferred language, and what matters most for your child. We will use this to understand fit and keep you updated while SMADA completes the licensing process.
Current stage
This is an interest form, not an immediate placement promise. Right now, we are gathering parent needs, preferred areas, and language preferences so follow-up can be clearer while the licensing process is being completed.
Questions from parents are welcome. Right now, the goal is a calm first conversation and a clear way to join the parent interest list while the licensing process is being completed.
About SMADA
Built from lived experience
Learn the story behind SMADA and the values guiding its work with children, families, and educators.
The founder story
Why this agency was created
A place where children are safe, cared for, and supported to grow with confidence.
This is not just a childcare agency. It is a place where parents can feel at peace and educators can build something real, stable, and respected. Trust is earned through clear standards, honest communication, and people who are prepared, supported, and accountable.
When Slava first started looking into day homes and agencies, what she found was not clarity but confusion. Information was everywhere, but there was no simple path to follow, no clear starting point, no step-by-step guidance, and no real sense of what mattered first. Finding an agency was just as difficult. She reached out again and again, but there were no available spots and no real support for how to move forward. For more than two years, she searched while continuing to run her own private day home and trying to figure everything out on her own.
That experience became the turning point. Slava saw how easily educators and families could be left feeling rushed, overwhelmed, unsupported, or rejected. In her experience, people were often pushed through paperwork without real explanation, or left feeling that one mistake could cost them everything. She also experienced contracts ending in ways that felt driven more by fear and competition than by support. That showed her how badly people needed something different: an agency built on clarity, accountability, calm step-by-step guidance, and real integrity. SMADA was created to offer what was missing, a more human path into childcare, backed by clear systems, written standards, and practical checklists that guide instead of overwhelm.
From the very first conversation, Slava wants educators to feel safe, guided, organized, and at peace. She wants them to know they are not alone, that they have someone beside them who understands the process, shares real knowledge, and helps them move forward with confidence. For educators, this is not just about paperwork or placement. It is about building a real day home business with support behind it, with clearer guidance, practical help, stronger positioning, and room to keep growing in both quality and income.
For parents, the promise is simple and non-negotiable: their child should be safe, cared for, and supported to grow with confidence. Slava wants children to experience a childhood that feels joyful, peaceful, and truly theirs, a place where they can have fun, feel secure, and develop their creativity, confidence, language, motor skills, and sense of self. Safety and dignity are non-negotiable. There is no place in this environment for abuse, neglect, violence, smoking, drugs, or any behavior that puts children at risk. Parents should feel that the people caring for their child are calm, capable, attentive, and prepared to respond responsibly on ordinary days and in emergencies.
Supporting families from many cultural and language backgrounds is also deeply personal to her. SMADA welcomes families from all backgrounds and is especially equipped to support English, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and Czech-speaking families. Slava understands how heavy a language barrier can feel when families are trying to rebuild their lives. No parent or educator should feel unwelcome, alone, or afraid to ask questions. Every family should feel respected, understood, and treated with kindness from the beginning.
Slava’s connection to this work is deeply personal. She has always loved being around children. Even as a child herself, she naturally cared for younger kids, created activities, and found joy in their growth. She believes early environments shape who children become, and that a peaceful, supportive childhood helps build a stronger future.
Music is another foundation of her life. She began studying music at the age of five and continued through years of formal training in music school, college, and university, developing as a performer, conductor, singer, pianist, and bandura player. As an opera singer and trained musician, she has performed internationally and seen firsthand how music builds discipline, concentration, creativity, rhythm, and emotional expression. For her, music is not decoration. It is part of how children learn to focus, create, move, express feelings, and experience joy. In everyday care, music shows up naturally, in transitions, songs, rhythm, movement, language, and the discovery of new sounds and cultures.
Her path into SMADA is also grounded in experience. She began by running her own day home, then continued her education in early childhood development, earning Level 2 and Level 3 certification. That gave her a deeper understanding of children’s behavior, development, and needs, and of how to support both children and educators with more wisdom and precision.
At the center of everything Slava builds is how she shows up for people. She wants educators and parents to feel that she is truly on their side, someone who listens, understands, and helps solve real problems instead of adding more confusion. People often describe her as kind, hardworking, steady, and someone with a big heart. She believes support should feel human, not transactional, and that people should leave feeling better, clearer, and more confident than when they started.
More than money, she cares about building a real community, one where parents feel at peace, educators feel respected, and both naturally share their experience because they genuinely felt supported. She cares about creating environments where people can feel safe enough to grow, creative enough to contribute, and supported enough to keep going.
If she had to describe what SMADA is meant to be in one sentence, it would be this: a family you can trust, one that cares, guides, and stays with you through the process.
What makes SMADA different
Warmth, structure, and a real music identity
Music is not an afterthought here. It is part of SMADA’s foundation, shaped by real study, real performance experience, and a deep appreciation for what rhythm, creativity, and beauty can add to a child’s day.
That difference is grounded in support, fairness, clear communication, and a more human approach to home childcare.
Core values
What families and educators should feel
From the first interaction, SMADA should feel calm, capable, warm, and trustworthy.
○Fairness over confusion
○Real experience behind the guidance
○Music as a genuine part of the identity
○Multicultural and multilingual support
Educator Applications
Start your educator application
SMADA is taking educator applications now while the licensing process is being completed. Start here when you’re ready to take the first step.
Application Form
Complete your short educator application
This form is for educators and prospective educators. Parents should use the parent interest list on the Parents page.
A simple first step
No payment. No obligation. Just a simple first step so we can understand your situation and guide what comes next while the licensing process is being completed.
If you’re even thinking about this, you should apply.
We’ll help you understand exactly where you stand before you commit to anything.
○No pressure. No giant intake wall. Just the first real step while educator applications are open.
○We can confirm readiness details next: criminal check, First Aid / CPR, landlord permission if renting, and the Level 1 ECE path.
What happens next
Clear follow-up. Calm guidance.
A human response, clearer next-step guidance, and a calmer process from here.
Step 1
We review your message
We look at your background, readiness, and what kind of support you need most while SMADA completes the licensing process.
Step 2
We tell you exactly what to do next
We identify your real next steps clearly: what documents you need, whether you need landlord permission, where you stand on ECE and First Aid / CPR, and what should be done now versus later.
Step 3
We follow up personally
The goal is a human response, calm guidance, and a clearer path while the licensing process continues.
Reassurance
A simple first step
No pressure. No payment. Just a clear way to introduce yourself, send your educator application directly, and expect a response within 72 hours.
○No payment here
○No giant intake wall
○No obligation just to reach out
○A human follow-up, not a cold process
Contact details
Calgary-based. Personal. Structured.
○Office: 400S Suite 4067 S111, 8500 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2N1
○
Agency line:
403-493-8008
○Meetings: By appointment only
○Approach: High-trust, low-pressure, guided next steps
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what actually matters before you move forward.
Educator FAQ
Questions from educators
Fast answers for people exploring approval, documents, and next steps.
Do I already need to be running a day home? +
No. Existing providers are a strong fit, but the door is also open to people who are new and serious about learning the right way.
Do I need Level 1 ECE before I apply? +
Level 1 ECE matters, but you do not need every step finished before reaching out. If you are serious, we can help you understand the path and next steps.
What if I am serious but still gathering documents? +
That is okay. The goal is to help serious people understand the right order early so they do not lose time or get overwhelmed.
Will I lose control of my home daycare? +
No. The goal is support with standards, not confusion, not chaos, and not unfair control.
What happens after I apply? +
You can expect a human follow-up, clearer next-step guidance, and a calmer process from the very beginning.
Parent FAQ
Questions from parents
Here are answers to questions families often ask about fit, timing, and next steps.
What kind of environment does SMADA want families to experience? +
Warm, structured, and home-based, with real communication, safety, and creative enrichment built into the day.
Is music the only focus? +
No. Music is part of the agency’s identity, but the bigger promise is warm care, structure, communication, and thoughtful child development.
Do you support multilingual families? +
Yes. SMADA welcomes families from all cultural and language backgrounds, and is especially equipped to support English, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and Czech-speaking families and educators.
Can parents reach out before licensing is complete? +
Yes. Parents can call, ask questions, and reach out now while SMADA completes the licensing process.
How do parents join the interest list? +
Parents can use the , call 403-493-8008, or reach out by email. We also welcome questions about preferred language so communication feels easier from the start.
Next step
Choose your path and move forward with clarity.
If you're ready, take the next step now. If you still have questions, we’ll meet you there and guide you forward calmly.
No pressure. Just the clearest next step for where you are right now.