Caregiver and child at the Folk Canada Conference.
Participating in the Level UP! program helped me feel deeply supported and less alone as a mom working in the music industry, both personally and professionally. It allowed me to better understand caregiving needs within our community, inspiring meaningful changes in our organization. The experience reinforced my commitment to creating an inclusive, caregiver-friendly environment in our workplace and programming.
Folk Canada
Folk Canada
Childcare Solutions for Conference Attendees
Pilot Project:Offering on-site, drop-in child care during the annual Folk Music Ontario Conference, and also inviting attendees to bring an accompanying caregiver free of charge to assist with care.
Project Duration: May – October 2024
Continuing to Implement: Yes. The pilot was well-received and demonstrated a clear need; Folk Canada plans to include child care in all future conferences.
Resources Shared: Project Field Notes, Email Promotion for On-site Child Care Options, Child Care Waiver
About Folk Canada
Location: Ontario
Artistic Discipline: Music
Operating Budget: $100,000 to $1,000,000
Folk Canada is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to the folk, roots, and traditional music community, with 40 years of supporting its members and the growth of the Canadian folk music industry. Folk Canada’s initiatives include the annual Folk Canada Conference, Developing Artist Program, Developing Presenters’ Program, Festivals’ Retreat, Ontario Folk Music Awards, Refolkus Podcast, International export events, and more.
Folk Canada’s Level UP! Project
Folk Canada piloted free, on-site, drop-in child care during the 2024 Folk Music Ontario Conference. Attendees were also invited to have a caregiver accompany them to the event free of charge as needed. Child care was offered each day of the conference at the Delta Hotel in Mississauga, using a private hospitality suite within the venue to create a quiet, safe, and integrated space for children ages 3 to 8. The pilot was designed to reduce barriers for caregivers—particularly working parents—so they could more fully participate in professional programming and showcase events. The pilot was delivered successfully with modest resources and minimal administrative burden. It was well received, demonstrated a clear need, and informed Folk Canada’s plans to make child care a permanent feature of future conference planning.
Project Highlights:
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- The child care space was staffed by a licensed early childhood educator who was also a showcasing artist, supported by vetted volunteers from the community.
- A private hospitality suite provided a low-cost, replicable solution that required no additional insurance rider.
- The pilot directly responded to feedback from past conference attendees and offered a scalable model for improving accessibility at industry events.
Resources
Folk Canada | Project Field Notes
About This Resource Folk Canada created these Project Field Notes in 2025 to share details about their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. Their project focused on offering on-site, drop-in child care during the annual Folk Music Ontario Conference, and also...
Folk Canada | Email Promotion: On-site Child Care Options
About This Resource Folk Canada created this Email Promotion for On-Site Child Care Options in 2025 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. The promotion was sent out as part of an e-newsletter with additional information about the upcoming conference....
Folk Canada | Child Care Waiver
About This Resource Folk Canada created this Child Care Waiver in 2025 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. Their project focused on offering on-site, drop-in child care during the annual Folk Music Ontario Conference.
More Information
For more information about Folk Canada, visit www.folkcanada.com.
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