Vendasta Opens Saskatchewan’s First Corporate Childcare Partnership with Tykes & Tots

Vendasta, the AI-powered platform for customer acquisition and engagement, has opened the doors to Saskatchewan’s first-ever corporate childcare partnership. The early learning centre, operated by Tykes & Tots and located inside Vendasta’s downtown Saskatoon HQ, is designed to meet the needs of working parents — and it’s already making a difference.

The centre accommodates up to 80 children across five bright, spacious classrooms. It serves children from six weeks to six years old, with flexible, child-guided programming built around play, curiosity, and exploration.

Why It Matters: Supporting Parents, Strengthening Community

The federal $10-a-day childcare program has increased demand for licensed spaces. Vendasta responded with a model that serves employees and the broader community.

  • 70% of spots are prioritized for Vendasta team members
  • 30% available to other tenants in the building
  • Any spots not filled by Vendasta or tenant families are available to other families in the community looking for care.
  • A $100,000 annual donation from Vendasta ensures programming decisions stay local, flexible, and focused on children
  • 5,000 sq ft of outdoor play space
  • Walking access to Meewasin Trail, Kinsmen Park, and downtown landmarks

This marks the sixth licensed childcare centre for Tykes & Tots, and their first inside a corporate HQ.

What Makes It Different

  • Child-led programming: Learning is guided by curiosity. If children become interested in bugs, educators build units around habitats, food, and ecosystems.
  • Play and exploration: Kids plant seeds, study butterflies, and even run garden boxes.
  • On-site chef and nutrition: Meals are crafted by a trained chef and dietitian. Culinary exploration is built into the curriculum.
  • Leadership development: Tykes & Tots team members pursue professional development beyond early childhood education, including:
    • Dale Carnegie training for frontline staff
    • Leadership Saskatoon participation, with a focus on conflict resolution, teamwork, and mentorship
  • Downtown community partnerships:
    • Under the “Little Tykes Kind Bites” initiative, police and fire teams will soon collaborate to distribute surplus food from the centre and Vendasta kitchen to people in need.
    • Children will participate by making cards of encouragement to include with the food containers.
    • Preschoolers will help dish out meals into containers, learning empathy through action as they prepare food for delivery.

Want to Help?

Tykes & Tots is actively building a base of local volunteers to support outdoor learning, field trips, and downtown discovery walks.

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to Cosette Kehoe at ckehoe@tykesntots.ca

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