Up on 1st Ave in Nakusp there is a little house filled with colour and light. Under the Rainbow is Susan Szathmary’s childcare centre which has been quietly open since July.
Walking up the front steps and through the front door, visitors are greeted with bright colours and art. The evidence of creativity is everywhere: paintings, posters, dolls, furniture. Filled with toys and play areas, the house is bright and cheerful and welcoming.
“I though there was a need here,” said Szathmary, who received her Early Childhood Education training in 1984 but stayed working in forestry until last year when she moved to Nakusp from Jasper.
I like the richness of living in a small town,” said the educator, who has been taking the challenges of starting her own business in stride. With help from Community Futures, she was able to develop a plan for her venture as well as a curriculum for kids. With first aid and all legal requirements in hand, she has opened her doors to offer a space that offers social experience, learning, and arts to kids.