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Joan Arruda

Arruda, Joan

Retired Chief Executive Officer of Family Day Care Services
EducationBAA, RECE, AECEO.C

Having worked through the program offered during late 1980s and completing her degree in 1991, Joan is a proud graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Early Childhood Education. The school’s focus on academic and practical learning provided a valuable journey for Joan in the field of early learning.  The opportunity to build her competency while earning a Bachelor of Applied Arts, enhanced her skills as an Early Childhood Educator and prepared her for various roles in the field.  As the parent of young children, the opportunity to complete her degree on a part-time basis was very important to Joan.  Her Professors connected well with adult learners, providing them with the opportunity to bring their real life experiences into the classroom setting.

As Chief Executive Officer of Family Day Care Services from 2004 to 2019, there are many aspects from Joan’s time at the university which she continues to draw from in her current role.  With 23 child care centres, 38 extended day and school age programs, 5 Ontario Early Years Centers, home child care and Special Needs Resourcing staff, Family Day is truly a multi-faceted organization which provides a broad range of services for children and their families living in the GTA, York Region and Peel Region.  The agency is committed to Family Centred Practice and works with the evidence based curriculum HighScope™ which is further supported by staff training in Hanen - Learning Language & Loving It™, High Five®, ABC and Beyond™ and ELECT/ELF.

Joan has worked for many years as a Director and Teacher in the field of early learning and care, gaining both practitioner and administrator experience in child care and family support programs.  Joan’s background includes teaching the continuing education ECE diploma and post-diploma administration certificate program at Seneca College and working in the multi-service sector as an Executive Director of a community-based agency providing settlement and family support services.  

With her many years of experience in early learning and care, Joan has been an active contributor at several provincial and regional tables, most recently as a member of the Ministry of Education’s Early Years Implementation Advisory Group and currently at the Minister’s Early Years Advisory Table.  Joan Co-Chairs the Quality Early Learning Network (QELN) and is a board member of both the Home Child Care Association of Ontario and the Peel Children and Youth Initiative.