Our Team

Samantha Henry

ECE III - Executive Director

Sam graduated from RRC Polytech Early Childhood Education program in 2008 with honours. She began working at RRC Early Childhood Centre in August 2008 after completing her final practicum there. Sam was the primary caregiver for the toddler group for 11 years and has deep appreciation for all the connections she made with children and families during that time. Sam continued her studies and graduated from Assiniboine Community College in Early Childhood Program Management in 2019. In 2021, Sam took the role of Centre Supervisor and was excited at the opportunity to provide a supportive and enriched work environment. In August 2022, Sam took the Executive Director position, as she celebrated 14 years with RRC. Sam was one of the recipients of MCCA’s Exceptional ECE of the Year for 2022. Sam is passionate about advocating for accessible, affordable, and quality child care and the important role Early Childhood Educators play in young children’s and families lives. Sam also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and fur babies.

Corinna Valdez

ECE II - Centre Supervisor

Corinna has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2015. She graduated with Honours with her ECE II Diploma from Red River College. She started out at RRC Early Childhood Centre as a practicum student and has been with the Centre for over 7 years. Corinna loves listening to music, photography, tropical islands, and dogs. She has a passion for advocating for child care and believes in the importance of providing quality care for children and supporting their families. She’s currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Program Management program in Assiniboine Community College and is working towards ECE Level III credentials. Corinna was one of the recipients of the MCCA Exceptional ECE of the Year for 2022.

Ami Tang

ECE II

Ami graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Red River College Polytech and has been a part of the RRC Early Childhood Centre team since September 2020. She loves spending time playing with children and enjoys seeing them grow and learn new things. Ami values quality care for all children and she believes that children learn best through play. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and cooking.

Stephanie Laxdal

CCA

Stephanie has been in the child care field for 6 years and has worked at RRC Early Childhood Centre since 2016 as a child care assistant. Stephanie believes in letting children get messy while learning new things both indoors and outdoors. When she’s not at work, Stephanie enjoys spending time outside and loves any type of animal.

Erin Sieders

ECE II

Erin has been working in the childcare field since 2016. She graduated from the RRC Polytech ECE Workplace Program in 2023 and holds a degree in sociology from the University of Manitoba. Erin enjoys playing and being silly with the children and feels that the outdoors is the best environment for growth. She values strong communication between staff and families and believes that children grow to their full potential when raised by a community. Erin enjoys reading, spending time with her cats and dog, and watching Marvel and Disney movies in her free time.

Gurpreet Kaur Bajwa

CCA

Gurpreet graduated from the University of Manitoba in Applied Business Management, however, her love for children directed her to the child care field. Gurpreet joined RRC Early Childhood Centre Inc. in February 2023. She actively encourages children to explore, learn new things, and become independent. Her communication style with children is soft, gentle and her patience allows children to ask and learn more effectively. Her hobbies include reading, cooking and meditation.

Clariz Agbuya

CCA

Clariz is a CCA with a background in teaching. She has 4 years working with preschool and school age children as a tutor and homeschool support and now she is braving the younger ones. Discovering how young children learn at the early stages and taking part in their growth was what motivated her to enter this field. Clariz is open to different approaches to teaching; it is about "getting out of the comfort zone", a way to learn and acquire more experiences to share with the children. Although Clariz likes to work with children, surrounded by them every day, she is an introvert and values me-time. After work or during free time, she prefers to stay home with her own children and spend time with her family. Her interests include reading books, watching films and tv series, and when she feels creative, could draft essays or stories, too.

Gabriela Carmona

ECE II

Meet Gabriela, but you can call her Gabby. Gabby is from Brazil and moved to Canada in 2016. Gabby received a diploma in Education in Brazil, which she was able to have recognized in Canada and through the Internationally Educated Qualifications Program obtained her Early Childhood Educator level II certificate. Gabby has been working in the childcare field since 2017 and has some supervisory experience in the field as well. She is passionate about both Early Childhood Education and children’s development and a true believer that children learn best through play. Gabby loves to be the children’s play partner so she can observe and discover how their young minds explore and learn about the world around them. Outside of work, Gabby enjoys spending time with her family both indoors and outdoors and watching TV.

Tracy Poitras

ECE III

Tracy has been working with children and families for the past 30 years. She is an ECE III, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from the University of Manitoba, majoring in Family Studies with a Child Studies/Special Needs concentration. A large portion of Tracy’s career has been in the area of early intervention. She feels privileged that she can celebrate with children and families in all their learning and wonder. In Tracy’s free time she enjoys puttering in the garden, getting her hands in the soil and hiking on wooded trails.

Board of Directors

R.R.C. Early Childhood Centre Inc. is a

non-profit organization that operates and collaborates with a Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for all Centre policies and ensuring the financial health of the centre.

All day-to-day business is run by the Executive and Assistant Director.

Current Members

Larissa Childs – Chairperson
Jackie Cooney-Birch – Vice Chairperson
Charlie Cabungcal – Treasurer
Tanya Redford – Secretary
Marc Battle – Member at Large
Jessica Wood – Member at Large
Grace Weigelt – Member at Large
Kaetlyn Martin – Member at Large
Lovely Sarte – Member at Large

Chaylene Murray

ECE II

Chay graduated with honours from RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Education program in 2020. She has proudly been working in the field since, making a positive impact in various programs. Chay has a unique passion for working with children. She is a strong advocate for quality child care and believes that nurturing environments, positive learning experiences, guidance and strong relationships play a key role in children’s development. Ever since childhood, the outdoor environment has always been a passion of hers, Chay is constantly finding ways to explore nature with the children. Often, she enjoys playing with the children, being silly, and singing songs. Over the years, Chay has learned that being an ECE is the most rewarding job. She looks forward to many more happy years in the profession and plans to obtain her ECE III in the near future, to continue growing in this amazing field of work. Outside of work, Chay enjoys spending time with her dog Benny, going on adventures, being at the cabin and gathering with family and friends.

Joy Pecson

ECE II

Joy has been in the childcare field since 2018. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education in the Philippines. In 2017, Joy moved to Winnipeg and decided to pursue Early Childhood Education. She started as a CCA and received her ECE ll through Prior Learning Assessment under the Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Program in 2020. In her free time, Joy likes going for long drives, camping and spending time with her family and friends.

Kennya Rodrigues Nézio

CCA

Kennya joined RRC Early Childhood Centre Inc. in March 2024 in a term position. Kennya holds a degree in Psychology from Brazil, having graduated in 2010. She has since dedicated herself to the educational field, with over 15 years of experience. Kennya believes in the power of early education and has fond memories of working with children throughout her career. Kennya is a newcomer to Canada. Her interests include classic literature and travel and she loves to spend her free time reading.