Q & A on Changes at the Dovercourt Community Hall
What is Little Bee?
Jen Senoga, a Woodcroft neighbour, is a former Edmonton Public Schools teacher who was
inspired to open Little Bee Academy when she began searching for quality childcare for her
young daughters and couldn’t find the right fit. The first location of Little Bee opened in 2022 at
Sherbrooke Community League and had a waiting list by the end of its first year. The second
location opened right here at Dovercourt Community League in 2025. A detailed presentation
was made at the AGM in the Spring of 2025 on the plans for the child care center. Owner Jen and
Morgan, the curriculum specialist and Dovercourt Director, were on hand to answer questions of
parents and community members in attendance.
Can a League rent to a private company?
The Tripartite License Agreement—established between the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton
Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL), and individual community leagues—provides
leagues with the ability to manage and rent their facilities to support local needs.
One important outcome of this agreement is that leagues can rent space to licensed childcare
programs. This arrangement not only ensures valuable public spaces are used to their fullest
potential, but also strengthens neighbourhood connections by providing families with accessible,
high-quality care close to home. By supporting childcare within community halls, leagues meet a
critical community need while generating revenue that can be reinvested into local
programs, events, and facility improvements thus creating a cycle of growth and benefit for
the entire neighbourhood.
How was the decision made?
In the fall of 2024, Jen approached the Dovercourt Community League executive to explore the
possibility of leasing space for a childcare program. The 2024/25 board carefully considered the
proposal by reviewing weekday hall use and income against the cost of utilities and need in the
community. They reached out to other interested businesses to ensure a fair and transparent
process, and consulted with both the City of Edmonton and the EFCL.
The board spoke to local schools to confirm that there was a genuine need for additional
childcare in the area. In addition, they carefully reviewed other neighbourhood facilities that
might be suitable for weekday daytime use, such as the Kirk Centre, before making their
decision. After thoughtful discussion, the board voted in favour of entering a weekday lease
agreement with Little Bee Academy, recognizing the value this partnership could bring to local
families and the community as a whole.
Jen Senoga, a Woodcroft neighbour, is a former Edmonton Public Schools teacher who was
inspired to open Little Bee Academy when she began searching for quality childcare for her
young daughters and couldn’t find the right fit. The first location of Little Bee opened in 2022 at
Sherbrooke Community League and had a waiting list by the end of its first year. The second
location opened right here at Dovercourt Community League in 2025. A detailed presentation
was made at the AGM in the Spring of 2025 on the plans for the child care center. Owner Jen and
Morgan, the curriculum specialist and Dovercourt Director, were on hand to answer questions of
parents and community members in attendance.
Can a League rent to a private company?
The Tripartite License Agreement—established between the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton
Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL), and individual community leagues—provides
leagues with the ability to manage and rent their facilities to support local needs.
One important outcome of this agreement is that leagues can rent space to licensed childcare
programs. This arrangement not only ensures valuable public spaces are used to their fullest
potential, but also strengthens neighbourhood connections by providing families with accessible,
high-quality care close to home. By supporting childcare within community halls, leagues meet a
critical community need while generating revenue that can be reinvested into local
programs, events, and facility improvements thus creating a cycle of growth and benefit for
the entire neighbourhood.
How was the decision made?
In the fall of 2024, Jen approached the Dovercourt Community League executive to explore the
possibility of leasing space for a childcare program. The 2024/25 board carefully considered the
proposal by reviewing weekday hall use and income against the cost of utilities and need in the
community. They reached out to other interested businesses to ensure a fair and transparent
process, and consulted with both the City of Edmonton and the EFCL.
The board spoke to local schools to confirm that there was a genuine need for additional
childcare in the area. In addition, they carefully reviewed other neighbourhood facilities that
might be suitable for weekday daytime use, such as the Kirk Centre, before making their
decision. After thoughtful discussion, the board voted in favour of entering a weekday lease
agreement with Little Bee Academy, recognizing the value this partnership could bring to local
families and the community as a whole.
If there’s a full-time business running in the hall, what happens to rental opportunities
during the day or week?
Little Bee has exclusive use of the main hall, kitchen, and north hall from 6 p.m. on Sundays
until 6:30 p.m. on Fridays. On PD days and summer holidays they also have use of the craft room
during the day. For the most part, during the week, the craft room and accessible washroom
remain available for rent. We’re also working to transform the former board room into a “club
room,” which would add another weekday rental space.
As the League has a long-standing relationship with the Girl Guides, Jen and the League have
worked together to ensure the Girl Guides continue to have access to hall space on Thursday
nights. The seniors continue to meet in the craft room for biweekly coffees and Ceramic classes
continue on Thursday evenings in the craft room.
At this time, the hall is available for rentals after 7 p.m. on Fridays, all day Saturday, and
Sundays until 4 p.m., as well as on statutory holidays and during childcare breaks (e.g.,
Christmas holidays).
Who paid for the renovations to allow a for-profit business to operate from the hall?
Recent upgrades include:
● Renewal of hall flooring – 50/50 shared between Little Bee, the Community League, and
grants
● Replacement storage for Community League (Little Bee, due to loss of party room
storage)
● Mini fridge in program room for seniors (Grant-funded)
● Kitchen renovations required for daycare licensing (Little Bee – includes electrical,
cupboards, and appliances)
● Kitchen storage for Community League (Little Bee, in compensation for loss of storage
space)
● Bulletin boards and painting (shared)
● Daycare signage and doorbell (Little Bee)
● Accessibility washroom renovations, lighting, ventilation, doors, windows, plumbing, and
new appliances (Grant-funded)
Upcoming improvements:
● New coat and boot racks at the front entrance (Little Bee)
● Runners for north and south hallways and front door (Community League)
● New appliances for the rink shack (Grant)
The nearly 1.5 million dollars in energy efficiency and accessibility upgrades to the
league and rink shack were covered 100% by grants.
during the day or week?
Little Bee has exclusive use of the main hall, kitchen, and north hall from 6 p.m. on Sundays
until 6:30 p.m. on Fridays. On PD days and summer holidays they also have use of the craft room
during the day. For the most part, during the week, the craft room and accessible washroom
remain available for rent. We’re also working to transform the former board room into a “club
room,” which would add another weekday rental space.
As the League has a long-standing relationship with the Girl Guides, Jen and the League have
worked together to ensure the Girl Guides continue to have access to hall space on Thursday
nights. The seniors continue to meet in the craft room for biweekly coffees and Ceramic classes
continue on Thursday evenings in the craft room.
At this time, the hall is available for rentals after 7 p.m. on Fridays, all day Saturday, and
Sundays until 4 p.m., as well as on statutory holidays and during childcare breaks (e.g.,
Christmas holidays).
Who paid for the renovations to allow a for-profit business to operate from the hall?
Recent upgrades include:
● Renewal of hall flooring – 50/50 shared between Little Bee, the Community League, and
grants
● Replacement storage for Community League (Little Bee, due to loss of party room
storage)
● Mini fridge in program room for seniors (Grant-funded)
● Kitchen renovations required for daycare licensing (Little Bee – includes electrical,
cupboards, and appliances)
● Kitchen storage for Community League (Little Bee, in compensation for loss of storage
space)
● Bulletin boards and painting (shared)
● Daycare signage and doorbell (Little Bee)
● Accessibility washroom renovations, lighting, ventilation, doors, windows, plumbing, and
new appliances (Grant-funded)
Upcoming improvements:
● New coat and boot racks at the front entrance (Little Bee)
● Runners for north and south hallways and front door (Community League)
● New appliances for the rink shack (Grant)
The nearly 1.5 million dollars in energy efficiency and accessibility upgrades to the
league and rink shack were covered 100% by grants.
Does the community carry legal responsibilities for the business?
Under the Tripartite License Agreement, the Community League is the licensee of the facility,
while the City of Edmonton remains the property owner. When the League rents or sub-licenses
space (for example, to a childcare provider), it assumes certain legal responsibilities—primarily
related to ensuring compliance with the Tripartite terms and proper oversight of the sub-license.
As part of these requirements, Little Bee Academy must maintain all necessary licensing,
permits, insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage to operate a licensed
childcare program. These requirements are a stipulation of the Tripartite Agreement and are
verified by the League as part of the leasing process.
Additionally, our insurance provider provided the content for the insurance section of our rental
agreement with Little Bee, ensuring that both the League and the childcare program meet all
necessary coverage standards.
Are childcare spaces reserved for neighbourhood children?
No. However, Dovercourt Community League members receive a discount on registration fees,
and currently, most children registered are from our neighbourhood or attend neighbourhood
schools.
Where did the community history end up?
The display case, previous names of the volunteers and executive plaques, the community logo in the hall, etc. The community’s
historical materials, including the display case items, the plaques listing past volunteers and
executive members, the old community logos, and decades of photos are currently stored in the
board room. We have an incredible amount of material, nearly 70 years’ worth, and it would be
wonderful to find volunteers who are interested in helping us sort, preserve, and thoughtfully
display this history.
Under the Tripartite License Agreement, the Community League is the licensee of the facility,
while the City of Edmonton remains the property owner. When the League rents or sub-licenses
space (for example, to a childcare provider), it assumes certain legal responsibilities—primarily
related to ensuring compliance with the Tripartite terms and proper oversight of the sub-license.
As part of these requirements, Little Bee Academy must maintain all necessary licensing,
permits, insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage to operate a licensed
childcare program. These requirements are a stipulation of the Tripartite Agreement and are
verified by the League as part of the leasing process.
Additionally, our insurance provider provided the content for the insurance section of our rental
agreement with Little Bee, ensuring that both the League and the childcare program meet all
necessary coverage standards.
Are childcare spaces reserved for neighbourhood children?
No. However, Dovercourt Community League members receive a discount on registration fees,
and currently, most children registered are from our neighbourhood or attend neighbourhood
schools.
Where did the community history end up?
The display case, previous names of the volunteers and executive plaques, the community logo in the hall, etc. The community’s
historical materials, including the display case items, the plaques listing past volunteers and
executive members, the old community logos, and decades of photos are currently stored in the
board room. We have an incredible amount of material, nearly 70 years’ worth, and it would be
wonderful to find volunteers who are interested in helping us sort, preserve, and thoughtfully
display this history.
