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Rachel Khan
Founder & Owner
With more than three decades of experience in early childhood education and childcare,I have dedicated my career to supporting children and families and creating nurturing environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
As a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) designation more than 30 years ago I began building a career grounded in compassion, inclusion, and a deep commitment to the well-being of every child. Early in my professional journey, I worked at Giant Steps, where my role was to support children with special needs. During my time there, I worked one-on-one with a student with Autism for two years, this was an experience that strengthened my understanding of individualized care and the importance of meeting each child where they are.
I joined the York Region District School Board and for the next eight years I gained valuable experience working within the education system and further developing my expertise in supporting children’s learning and development.
In 2006, Distillery District Early Learning was established and my entrepreneurial journey began. Together, Lucy and I built a childcare program founded on the belief that children deserve a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment in which they can develop with confidence and joy. Over the years, we shared dedication and commitment to families helped their centre grow into a trusted part of the community.
Lucy Khan
Founder & Owner
My journey into child care began when I became a parent myself. Like many parents, I wanted to create a nurturing, welcoming environment where children could feel safe, supported and inspired to learn and grow. What started as a personal connection to early learning soon became a passion and an entrepreneurial journey that has shaped the past 20 years of my life.
For two decades, I have had the privilege of owning and operating multiple child care centres and being part of the lives of countless children and families in our community. Building successful centres from the ground up, growing dedicated teams, and creating a place families can trust has been one of my greatest achievements. Within the child care industry, I saw a need for helping centres find qualified staff - creating platforms that the industry relies on today in making sure quality staffing was easily accessible and help connect centres with the reliable, qualified educators when they need.
Child care is not simply a business to me, it is a career built from being a parent, a passion for children, and a deep commitment to the families and communities we serve.
Susy De Sousa
Supervisor
For 20 years, Susy has been an incredible part of the Distillery District Early Learning family. She has been with us since the very beginning, starting her journey as an RECE in our classrooms and growing into the amazing leader she is today.
Throughout her 20 years with us, Susy’s dedication, organizational skills, and genuine care for children, families, and her colleagues have made her an invaluable part of our Centre. Her warm and welcoming personality creates an environment where children feel safe and cared for, families feel comfortable and supported, and staff feel valued.
Today, Susy serves as our Supervisor, overseeing a team of more than 26 staff members while managing the day-to-day operations of our Centre. Her ability to keep everything organized, support her team, solve problems, and ensure that the Centre runs smoothly is truly remarkable.
Susy is always willing to lend a helping hand and step in wherever she is needed. Her commitment goes far beyond her role — she is someone our staff, families, and children can count on every day.
Over the past 20 years, we have had the privilege of watching Susy grow professionally and personally alongside our Centre. From her early days in the classroom to becoming a leader who plays such an important role in our daily operations, her journey is a wonderful part of our Centre’s story.