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Saturday, March 31, 2018 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS


Your Choices for the Best of Medicine Hat


HOME & DECOR


• APPLIANCE STORE 1. HOME DEPOT 2. LEON’S 3. THE BRICK


• BUILDING SUPPLIES 1. HOME DEPOT 2. RONA 3. WINDSOR PLYWOOD


• FLOORING STORE 1. CREATIVE FLOOR COVERINGS 2. MAIN FLOOR CARPET 3. JIMS HARDWOOD FLOORING


• FURNITURE STORE 1. SOFAS AND MORE 2. LEON’S 3. THE BRICK


• HEATING AND A/C 1. BAUMANNS 2. DESIGN AIR 3. ATRON REFRIGERATION


• HOME DECOR 1. SOFAS AND MORE 2. REAL DEALS ON HOME DECOR 3. UNIQUELY DIFFERENT DECOR & MORE INC


• HOME LIGHTING 1. HOME DEPOT 2. KERRY JAYMS LIGHTING 3. KITCHEN & LIGHT GALLERY


• KITCHEN STORE 1. CREEKSIDE CABINETS 2. HIEBERT CABINETS 3. KA CABINETRY 3. KITCHEN KABOODLE


• PAINT STORE 1. FREDDIE’S PAINT 2. CLOVERDALE PAINT 3. HOME DEPOT


• RENOVATION COMPANY 1. STRONGWOOD CONSTRUCTION 2. TIMKO HOME IMPROVEMENTS LTD 3. BROST DEVELOPMENTS INC


• WINDOW COVERINGS 1. BUDGET BLINDS & INSPIRED DRAPES 2. FACTORY BLIND OUTLET 3. THE BLIND GUY


PETS


• DOG TRAINING 1. GAS CITY DOG CLUB 2. DELLA’S K9 CONNECTION 3. FLASHING CANINES


• PET BOARDING 1. AUNTY’S PLACE PET BOARDING 2. PET PARK BOARDING KENNEL 3. ANIMAL HOUSE


• PET GROOMER 1. PAIGE KOBLEY GROOMING 2. CITY VETERINARIAN 3. JAWS N PAWS


• PET SITTING 1. THE CRITTER SITTER 2. 4 ON THE FLOOR PET SITTING


• PET STORE 1. ANIMAL WORLD 2. PETSMART 3. PETLAND


• VETERINARIAN 1. CYPRESS VIEW VETERINARIAN 2. ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTRE 3. CROSSROADS VETERINARIAN


REALTOR


1. SIMON, RON 2. KELLY, COLLEEN 3. LACEY, JULIA


RETAIL


• BAKERY 1. REDCLIFF BAKERY 2. HEARTWOOD CAFE 3. COSTCO BAKERY


• BRIDAL WEAR 1. MAGIC MOMENTS 2. WHITE ROOM 3. THE DRESSING ROOM


• CHILDREN’S RETAILER 1. ONCE UPON A CHILD 2. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE 3. BUMBLEBOO


• FLORIST 1. FRESH FLOWERS & GIFTS 2. AWESOME BLOSSOM FLOWERS AND GIFT IDEAS


3. OH MY FRUIT CREATIONS


• GARDEN CENTRE 1. WINDMILL GARDEN CENTRE 2. BLONDIE’S GIFT AND GARDEN 3. HOME DEPOT GARDEN CENTRE


• GIFT SHOP 1. BLONDIE’S GIFT AND GARDEN 2. OH MY FRUIT CREATIONS 3. REAL DEALS ON HOME DECOR


• GROCERY STORE 1. REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE 2. COSTCO 3. SAFEWAY SE HILL 3. SOUTH COUNTRY CO-OP NORTHLANDS


• HOBBY/CRAFT STORE 1. AVALON HOBBIES & GIFTS 2. CRAZI QUILTER’S LAIR 3. ONE SCRAPPY CHICK


• HOT TUB STORE 1. SPA TACTULAR HOT TUBS 2. ULTIMATE SPAS & POWER SPORTS 3. STEINER’S


• JEWELRY STORE 1. WRIGHT’S JEWELRY 2. ROSET DIAMONDS 3. GOLD DUST JEWELLERY


• LANDSCAPE SUPPLY 1. LANDSCAPE DEPOT 2. HOME DEPOT 3. CANADIAN TIRE


• LIQUOR STORE 1. SUPERSTORE LIQUOR 2. TRACK SIDE LIQUOR 3. HOPS & SCOTCH


• MENS CLOTHING 1. LABELS FOR MEN 2. MARKS WORK WEARHOUSE 3. THE BOARDING HOUSE


• OFFICE SUPPLIES 1. STAPLES 2. BEN’S OFFICE PLUS 3. DESK N’ FILE 3. GOLD-TECH SERVICES LTD


• PHOTOFINISHING 1. COSTCO 2. BOYLAN IMAGING 3. LONDON DRUGS


• SHOE STORE 1. SHOE WAREHOUSE 2. CALL IT SPRING 3. QUARKS


• SPECIALTY RETAILER 1. MICRODYNE COMPUTER SERVICES LTD 2. HAT NEWS & TOBACCO 3. FRIDAY’S IMAGE 3. REMEMBER WHEN TOYS


• VAPE SHOP 1. GAS CITY VAPES 2. VAPE SENSE 3. CLOUD CHEMIST COLLECTIVE EJUICE & VAPE SHOP


• WOMENS CLOTHING 1. SHUT UP N WEAR IT 2. DRESS YOUR LASHES 3. RICKI’S


SPORTS & FITNESS


• DANCE STUDIO 1. HIT THE FLOOR STUDIO OF DANCE LTD. 2. HANSON SCHOOL OF DANCE 3. MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC & DANCE


• FITNESS EQUIPMENT 1. BODYBUILDING DEPOT FITNESS EMPORIUM


2. CYCLEPATH 3. FLAMAN FITNESS


• GOLF COURSE 1. CONNAUGHT GOLF CLUB 2. MEDICINE HAT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 3. PARADISE VALLEY PAR-3 GOLF COURSE


• GYM/FITNESS FACILITY 1. HEARTBREAKER DANCE & FITNESS 2. YMCA 3. FAMILY LEISURE CENTRE


• SPORTING GOODS 1. WHO’S YOUR CADDY 2. CANADIAN GUN HUB 3. VALHALLA PURE


EVERYONE WHO VOTED! WATCH FOR THE


READER’S CHOICE AWARDS ONLINE PREVIEW IN JANUARY 2019!!


THANK YOU TO BEST OF MEDICINE HAT


CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS! 403-580-1313


dustaway@shaw.ca Owner operated since 2003


"If you're satisfi ed, tell others... if not, tell us."


DUST-A-WAY


FURNACE & DUCT CLEANING Residential cleaning services


NEWS PHOTO Nature's Way Learning centre was voted the best daycare in the Best of Medicine Hat. Standing in front of the new premises on 6 Street SE is Dorian Gomez - owner.


It's the MEDICINE HAT NEWS


Being voted the best daycare centre in Medicine Hat is an endorsement of the philosophy and vision that began in 2010 for the owner of Natures Way Learning Centre.


Dorian Gomez opened her first daycare in a church basement with 34 children. She then moved to a former school in 2017 when there were 83 children. In September 2017, the learning centre moved into a new building on Sixth Street S.E. and now have 106 children enrolled.


Gomez says she is passionate about caring for children.


“They tell it like it is,” she said.


Parents are arguably the best judge of a daycare centre and Gomez quotes from a comment a parent wrote down.


“You’re amazing. Keep up the good work,” it read.


The philosophy at Natures Way is about role modelling, distracting little ones when necessary to handle a potential issue, and activities as they get older so that they can learn people skills, artistic impression, and some basics in education.


It is not all about structured activities though. Gomez believes in the value of


Natures Way for best child care


allowing kids to be kids and enjoy playing outdoors. They may be having fun but they are also learning, she says.


“(It’s about) allowing children to explore,” said Gomez. “We are not just baby sitters.”


Staff use sign language to communicate with little ones that can’t express themselves verbally yet, said Gomez. Education and the environment for the children is so important.


There are some challenges in running a successful daycare centre with more than 100 children, one of those is finding and choosing the right staff that will work well with the team. Earning a qualification for childcare is one aspect but then there is the training on the job too to embrace the vision that is Natures Way.


Many of the children are at Natures Way between six and nine-and-a-half hours each day - perhaps more of their awake hours than they spend at home. That is an indication of how important their time with staff is, said Gomez.


As the owner there is plenty of paperwork to follow regulations and to maintain full accreditation but interaction with parents is also a priority, said Gomez.


41289397•03/31/18


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