Ola Day Care Inc

Ola Daycare has plenty going for it: the Bloor-Danforth subway line is conveniently close, the magnificent former bank building in which it's housed is located at the north end of Toronto's thriving Roncesvalles neighbourhood and the spacious backyard play area is a cut above most others.

But what really sets Ola apart? The answer is simple: hugs.

"Parents tell us they don't feel their kids are going to be hugged enough at other daycares," says co-owner and accredited early childhood educator Ane Spirkoska. "Here, they're going to be hugged. We may not be as beautiful as some other daycares inside, but we make up for it with nurturing and love."

Ane's modesty regarding Ola's interior reveals her high standards. The high-ceilinged space, filled with sunlight pouring through large windows, is festooned with colourful artwork and furnished with pint-sized tables, chairs and a padded floor-level banquette. Indeed, since opening in 2013, Ola has made great strides in transforming the interior and backyard into welcoming, stimulating play areas for toddlers and pre-schoolers.