Fall / Winter 2011

Executive Director’s Message

This past spring and summer our office and stakeholders experienced many challenges while upgrading computer systems, casework software, email addresses housed through BBBSC and a new telephone system— resulting in our office joining the 21st century! We thank you all for your patience through this transition.
Our 48th Annual General Meeting was held September 12th; the time our Board of Directors and staff report to the membership, highlighting and celebrating successes April 1, 2010 through March 31st, 2011. Please see our AGM section which lists the awards presented to our community supporters as well as volunteer achievements including our Volunteer of the Year, Sue Mariage; congratulations Sue!
The evening of recognition ended celebrating our Regional Build for Kids’ Sake Project (chaired by our agency), recognizing project champion Mason Homes Ltd., project chair Mike Leone, and project manager Frank Van Der Heyden. A special thanks to these individuals for making this very unique project such a big success for the four Niagara Region BBBS participating agencies! Our agency was presented with the BBBSC Spirit Award for this project at the July National convention. We also received the BBBS Growth Award for our 2010 year.
We have several cooperative education students this year to welcome: 1 high school student, 1 Child & Youth Worker, 2 Social Service Workers, 3 Recreation & Leisure, 1 Recreation & Therapy, 1 Post Grad Event Management, 7 Mohawk nursing students and 3 McMaster nursing degree students = a very busy office!
I am also very happy to announce Minacs has once again come on board to sponsor our 2011-2012 Big for A Day program, providing us the funding to enable monthly outings for our wait list Littles! Thank you Minacs!
Warm regards,
Barb Van Der Heyden, Executive Director

Annual General Meeting
Community Partner Awards
Tim Horton Store Owners in Port Colborne,
Welland, & Fonthill
Arby’s, Seaway Mall
Boggio IDA
Emerald Pines Golf Course
Intact Insurance
Minacs
PenFinancial Credit Union
Trillium Foundation
United Way of South Niagara
Welland Volunteer Fire Co. #1