Richmond Family Place has been showing up for families in Richmond since 1979. To a first-time visitor, it might look like a drop-in space for young children — colourful, welcoming, full of life. But spend a little time there and the full picture comes into focus. This is a place where caregivers find their footing, where newcomers build their first local friendships, where a prenatal program grows into a years-long relationship, and where the ripple effect of one supported family quietly strengthens a whole community. For over 45 years, Richmond Family Place has been the village — and the village, it turns out, is exactly what people need.

More Than a Playroom, More Than a Program

When the Village Shows Up, So Does Everything Else

The work is preventative and strength-based — built on the belief that the earlier a family is supported, the further that support reaches. Staff walk alongside caregivers, encouraging them to build their own confidence and skills  without judgment. The goal has never been to step in and take over, but to build capacity — so that families leave feeling more equipped than when they arrived. And in a world where parenting advice is everywhere — social media, YouTube, influencers — and not all of it is reliable, having access to support that is genuinely grounded in early childhood science and trust-based relationships is essential, as this support encompasses all of those elements, not just information.

Behind every program is that same foundation. Community partners come in regularly — from early childhood development teams to postpartum support workers — ensuring that when a family is referred somewhere or given information, they are trusted sources that families can feel confident accessing. And because the team speaks multiple languages, families can walk in and feel at ease from the very first visit.

"What our team loves to see are the connections — the community that people create between each other." — Valerie Allen

VALERIE ALLEN
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Roots That Run Deeper Than the Programs

Richmond Family Place has never been just a place to bring your child for a few hours. Every corner of the space has been designed with intention — a playroom that is actually a carefully built learning environment, with each table chosen to quietly support a child's development without ever feeling like a lesson. Outside, a garden where children grow vegetables and learn where food comes from. Nothing is accidental, because the team understands that the early years shape everything that follows.

And those roots show. Staff members who were once babies in the program have grown up and joined the team. Caregivers who first walked in nervous and overwhelmed have watched their children take their first steps, say their first words, and head off to school — and still come back. Some friendships that started over a drop-in visit have grown into something that extends well beyond the building. What began as a visit became a habit, and what began as a habit became a community.

The Moment Everything Clicked

Like many growing non-profits, Richmond Family Place reached a point where the team's energy was being pulled in more directions than was sustainable — and for Valerie, one of those directions had quietly become IT manager. Not by training, not by choice, but by necessity.

As the organization expanded its programs, locations, and the number of families it served, the need for something more structured became clear. Security, data management, asset tracking, backup planning — these weren't things that could stay in the background any longer.

That's when TAVANCA came in. What followed wasn't just a tech upgrade — it was a shift in how the whole operation felt. Every device is now tracked, every backup has a plan, and when something comes up there's a team to call. For an organization carrying confidential information about the families it serves, that kind of structure and security isn't a luxury. It's a responsibility.

"Yes, we're spending more on IT than we used to — but that's because we weren't spending where we should have been all along."  — Valerie Allen

Growing With the Community

The doors stay open, the programs keep growing, and the community keeps showing up. This June, an open house welcomed funders, donors, and partners into the space — a chance to see firsthand what the work really looks like. In August, the annual neighborhood summer celebration returns, drawing hundreds of families for a day of connection. After 45 years, the next chapter looks as open and intentional as everything that came before it.