Parenting
Parenting – The Myth of Perfect Parent
We spend so much energy trying to get it right that we forget the most important thing our children need is simply a parent who keeps showing up.
Coming SoonThe Heart
Our Roots
Every great garden begins beneath the surface — in the quiet, intentional work of laying roots.
What we stand on
The Five Cs
Compassion
Changing the lens: We seek first to understand each child, parent, and educator through active listening and support, meeting them where they are in an environment of safety and trust.
Courage
Resilient leadership: We provide the inspiration and motivation to lead with a gentle and brave spirit, demonstrating courage to embrace new experiences and challenges.
Commitment
Grounded in purpose: We are committed to excellence and staying rooted in our why, choosing integrity and fulfillment with intention.
Connection
A community-driven village: We are dedicated to community service and building bridges. We cultivate a strong, supportive network that connects children, parents, educators and our community in meaningful ways.
Creativity
Beyond the box: We celebrate diverse cultures and learning styles. We curate creative learning experiences that honor individuality and unique perspectives.
Who we are
The Heart of CultivatED
Two women, one shared belief: that families flourish when they feel truly supported.
Ruth Santosham
Co-Founder
Co-Founder, CultivatED & Founder, Sprouts Academy
BA, B.Ed, ECEA
Ruth's journey in education is guided by a lineage of wisdom, rooted in a philosophy passed down from her grandfather: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. This simple, profound idea became the foundation of Sprouts Academy, where Ruth has built a culture that honors the unique interests and learning styles of every child.
Having grown up in the Dunbar area, Ruth knows this community intimately. She is a deeply community-driven leader who has spent over 20 years bringing people together to create the village that children and families need to thrive.
As the creative heart of CultivatED, Ruth believes that intentional teaching starts with the educator's own well-being. She is a curator of talent, dedicated to fostering a supportive ecosystem of parents and teachers, ensuring that the adults who shape our future generations have a place where they, too, belong.
Nimi Braich
Co-Founder
Co-Founder, CultivatED & Managing Partner, Sprouts Academy
CPHR, GDBA, ECE
Originally from the small town of Campbell River, Nimi brings a grounded, heart-centered perspective to her role as a strategic leader. For Nimi, work is not just a career — it is a core part of her identity. As a working mother who chairs school events and stays deeply present for her children, she lives in the constant, beautiful tension of managing both worlds. She is a work-as-passion leader who believes that professional drive and motherhood can coexist, fueling one another through empathy and purpose.
With a background in Early Childhood Education, a CPHR designation, and a GDBA, Nimi bridges the gap between high-level HR strategy and the classroom experience. At Sprouts Academy, she has been the architect of the school's strategic growth, introducing automation and sustainable processes that allow the community to flourish.
Nimi co-founded CultivatED as the one-stop shop she needed for herself: a space where parents and educators are supported through an intentional, integrated lens. By viewing every challenge as both a parent and a professional, she is committed to building a community where empathy, support and heart are at the forefront of everything.
Our Story
I’ve got you.
CultivatED was born out of a shared belief that no one should have to navigate the journey of education or parenthood alone. It is the story of two like-minded women who looked at each other and said, I've got you.
Our partnership is built on a foundation of mutual support and a beautiful contrast of perspectives. With Ruth's children now older, she brings the wisdom of experience and the steady hand of a community leader who has spent 20 years building the village. Nimi, in the thick of navigating life with young children herself, brings the fire of a working mother who refuses to choose between her professional passion and being present for her family.
We lean on one another constantly exchanging fresh ideas, grounding each other through the constant tension of modern life, and bridging the gap between high-level strategy and the classroom floor.
We realized that if we needed this kind of support, other parents and educators did, too. CultivatED is our way of extending that same I've got you to our community. It is a one-stop shop designed to simplify the complex, provide a soft place to land, and ensure that every parent and educator feels seen, supported, and empowered.
Words worth growing toward
The Journal
Coming Soon
Reflection
What makes your child unique?
We often forget that a child's uniqueness isn't defined by our perspective; it is found in their own lived experience. Our role is not to label their path, but to witness the one they are already walking.
Coming SoonCommunity
Cultivating Community
Community isn't just a place; it's the village we build together. We believe that when we support the adults, the parents and the educators we create a stronger, more compassionate foundation for our children to grow.
Coming Soon