Minette Moolman - Program Director/Operations Director/ECE

I graduated with my ECE from Centennial College in 2003. Since then I’ve had experiences running a home daycare, facilitating a 100% outdoor preschool for 4 years, and being a mamma to 2 children ages 7 + 12. I’m also a certified birth doula and professional photographer, and have been working as the Program Director & ECE at Little Red since 2020.

I’m immensely grateful to my daughter who always insisted that I take her outside. She opened my eyes to the magic of outdoor learning and I’ve never looked back! I’m deeply honoured to have a role in facilitating young children in their learning journey while making space for nature to be their greatest teacher. I’m extremely proud of the environment that we’ve created - none of which would be possible without the Little Red Team.

My favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in this world” - Gandhi

Joanne Fisher - ECE

Some of my best memories growing up were camping and canoeing on the still lakes and cross-country skiing through the quiet forests of Ontario.  The peacefulness of nature has always impressed me.  After a long career in social work and community development work in Toronto, I saw how people were becoming increasingly disconnected from nature and felt that the need to protect mother earth was becoming more important than ever.  Books by David Sobel and Richard Louv inspired me to seek opportunities to mentor children in nature, after all, they are the future earth protectors!  I moved out west around 2011 to live a life closer to nature and eventually completed my Early Childhood Education diploma in 2016.  Sobel says “Give children a chance to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” This quote has inspired me to do what I do.  I am immensely grateful and honoured to play a role in the childrens lives and to be a part of the amazing Little Red team!  What a wonderful community we have!  I spend my other time gardening, crafting, foraging, playing guitar, backpacking and climbing mountains with my sweetheart, Chris.

Zoë Chalmers - ECE

I was born and raised on Salt Spring Island and feel a deep connection to the island and community. In 2014, I became a Certified Early Childhood Educator and have since worked with children, youth and families in a number of capacities, such as: Strong Start Facilitator (ELF), Kindergarten Support ECE and Education Assistant for students with diverse abilities. I am passionate about nature exploration, emergent curriculum and I value the power of children learning through their play. As well, I am a mother, step-mother and outdoor enthusiast and I continue to learn and develop my skills through professional development. I am grateful to play an important role in the early years of children’s lives and am so happy to be working alongside an inspiring team of educators at The Little Red Schoolhouse.

Rowyn George - RA/Facilitator

Hello, my name is Rowyn Jade George. My father is a hereditary chief of the Wet’suwet’en Nation and my mother’s people descend from the British Isles. My parents loved to refer to my sister and I as “A living treaty”and I’ve always liked the sound of that. I know I have been bestowed great strength and power from both my mother and father. 

I have lived on the West Coast my whole life, hopping between these beautiful islands. And though I didn’t grow up on the Yintah (Wet’suwet’en territory) or the British isles, I am very happy with where I have lived and I am incredibly grateful for being able to live, work and play within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOTEN speaking peoples.

I am happiest outside playing with animals or children and creating  beautiful memories with family and friends. I also enjoy painting, crafting and  reading. For these reasons and many others I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that I found Little Red and that Little  Red found me. 

Caoimhe Merrick - RA/Facilitator

I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to Canada eight years ago. I had a strong desire to learn more about growing food and living closer to the land. The years spent here have been an incredible exploration of self and the greater community. They have led me to deep nature studies and into connection with the natural world that I did not expect. 

I am currently a student of the adult immersion course at the Wisdom of the Earth School, learning wilderness skills such as fire making, tracking, crafting with natural materials, shelter building and tanning hides, all the while focusing on growing a deeper relationship with place, connecting with plants, animals, birds, and elements.

I am passionate about music, singing and telling stories. I have played piano since I was seven but started learning guitar seriously when I moved here. I now have the pleasure and honour of sharing songs and stories with the children at Little Red and they inspire me to learn more and more.