Meet the Owners

Hi, I'm Vanessa, the brain behind The Makery. I'm a Yukon kid who landed in Alberta a long time ago and never left. At home it's me, my teenage boy, a very opinionated pomeranian, and my husband Jason, who's my partner in both life and business and somehow puts up with me every single day. I also have an adult son, who blessed me with a grandson in 2025.

On paper: an honours diploma in Early Childhood Education, a second in Montessori for ages 3 to 6, and a certificate in Applied Positive Psychology. Off paper: a total nerd for this stuff. Give me a free afternoon and I'll spend it elbow-deep in a course or a pile of books I swore I'd read later.

I've been working with children since 2001, with about half of that running the show in leadership roles. In 2013 we opened Mindful Moments, our child care program in Sherwood Park, which started with one staff member and grew into a team of close to thirty. Getting a front-row seat to childhood, the part of life that shapes everything after it, is not something I take lightly.

The Makery is a place where children (and adults) can get their hands on all sorts of materials and experiences, let their imaginations go wild. A place where play is the whole point, no matter how old you are. We hope you enjoy your time here as much as we do!

Hey, I'm Jason: husband to Vanessa and co-owner of The Makery.

A long time ago I knew I wanted a career that gave something back to the community. For a while I was set on becoming a paramedic, until I realized I couldn't stomach the thought of seeing a child in distress. So I took a hard turn into my other passion, IT, and stayed there quite happily. Then I met Vanessa.

Vanessa pulled me into the world of working with children, and it clicked almost immediately. This was the connection to community I'd been after the whole time. The more I did it, the more hooked I got. I earned my level one and started building real relationships with children and their families. My level two followed while I helped run our day home and lent a hand at Mindful Moments. I have since earned a diploma in Early Childhood Education and am fully imersed in the day to day of both The Makery and Mindful Moments.

Over the years I've had the honour of meeting so many wonderful people. What I love most is getting to know each child who walks through our doors, connecting with their families, and working together to draw out the brilliance that lives in every child's mind. Can't wait to meet you!