2019 Tribute Award for Leadership

Elaine Whitmore

Throughout Elaine Whitmore’s 17-years as CEO of John McGivney Children’s Centre (JMCC), the centre grew in the numbers of children and families served, volunteers engaged with the centre and its clients, and its staff complement. JMCC also responded to the needs of the Windsor-Essex community by significantly expanding its scope of services.

Committed to ensuring JMCC is a state-of-the-art children’s treatment centre that is welcoming, fully accessible and family friendly, Elaine led an extensive renovation project that was supported by provincial funding, and a successful staff and community fundraising campaign. JMCC also opened Play McGivney together with the adjacent Hotel Dieu Hospital, a fully accessible outdoor playground for all ages and abilities, and completed an indoor Smilezone renovation to create welcoming and fun indoor public spaces.

JMCC achieved many milestones related to improved service delivery during Elaine’s tenure. The centre is the sole provider of School-Based Rehabilitation Services in the area, ensuring the highest quality of rehabilitation services are provided to children attending schools. On-site clinics from London Health Sciences Centre expanded to meet growing local needs for pediatric orthopedic, rheumatology and genetics expertise, eliminating the need for families to travel outside Windsor-Essex for these services. A renewed focus on recreational therapy resulted in expanded opportunities to support therapy goals and social inclusion.

Elaine has been a tireless advocate for ensuring JMCC families are at the centre of care. Under her leadership JMCC adopted a clear family-centred program and developed a Family Advisory Network whose members play an important role in centre decisions.

As a highly respected and involved member of the Windsor-Essex community, Elaine built strong relationships with local system partners, decision-makers and influencers, including in the ever-growing technology sector, to advancer the sector and to promote client independence, improved quality of life and inclusion for kids with disabilities and their families.

Tribute Award for Partnership

Adele Kirby

Collaboration is at the heart of everything for Adele Kirby, who practices and nurtures partnerships with regional agencies and local providers, and with colleauges across Ontario. Her commitment has created interdisciplinary programs that are integral to One Kids Place (OKP), inspirational to centre staff and peers across the province, and that will impact communities for years to come.

One of the first to join the team when OKP was established, Adele later founded the centre’s office in Gravenhurst, and developed the strong programs for the communities of Muskoka and Parry Sound that are today the significant portion of OKP’s services. She worked with community partners across Northern Ontario to create a family-centred service delivery system that benefits all kids with disabilities and their families, and enhances lives. Adele’s work helped make OKP a home to community partners including the Nipissing Association for Disabled Youth, the North Bay chapter of Autism Ontario, PLAYS, EarlyON, and the Section 23 Transition to School Program.

Adele believes that partnership with community agencies improves services overall, and evidence of this is apparent in programs such as the Sound Community Hub in Parry Sound, a unique partnership that co-locates OKP’s office with local service agencies and has become a model replicated by cities and towns across Ontario. Other examples of this collaborative family-centred approach include the Early Start Denver Model, Coordinated Service Planning, Early Years and Best Start, and Get Ready for Kindergarten, a unique outside the box pilot to ensure all kids are ready and able to be successful in school.

A graduate of University of Toronto’s Speech-Language Pathology program, Adele is known for remaining current with trends and advance is her field and her incorporating knowledge into best in class programs and services. She mentors with an ability to listen, motivate and encourage, building team with a depth of knowledge and positive approach to leadership that is respected by all.

“We’re thrilled to see these fantastic colleagues recognized and honoured by their peers and their communities,” says EKO CEO Jennifer Churchill. “Elaine and Adele have shown us how to keep kids at the centre in our evolving environment, and we are inspired by their many contributions to ensuring Ontario kids with special needs and their families live their best lives.”

EKO Tribute Award Nominees represent the best in class. Read about EKO Tribute Award Recipients

2018 Tribute Award – Partnership

Pathways Health Centre for Children

The Aamjiwnaang First Nation

The Walpole Island First Nation

The Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation

Pathways Health Centre for Children, together with the Aamjiwnaang, Walpole Island, and the Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation have undertaken important work to improve service delivery for children living in First Nations communities in Lambton County.

With startup funding from local industry partners Suncor, Esso, Shell, Nova Chemicals, and Arlanxeo, these partners successfully launched programs that deliver developmental services including speech therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, to kids and their families in their communities.

These innovative partnerships between Pathways Health Centre for Children and the First Nations communities have led to the development of community-driven models that are increasing access to services, ensuring children and families receive service in appropriate settings, in their own language, and delivered with and by Indigenous therapists.

Positive impacts are already reported for this initiative, which offers tremendous potential to improve developmental outcomes for children in First Nations communities in the future.

Empowered Kids Ontario is pleased to recognize the deserving partners whose dedication to children and youth is at the heart of these innovative and impactful programs.

2017 Award of Excellence

Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann

As CEO of Grandview Children’s Centre, Ms. Sunstrum-Mann has made contributions that will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the Durham Region, on the network of Ontario’s CTCs, and on the lives of kids with special needs and their families. She is well-regarded for building capacity within the Grandview Kids leadership team and also across the province. Under her leadership the Grandview Kids medical team has cut wait times for assessments by more than two-thirds, and increased visits to 250 a day across six sites with a staff of 150 professionals. Always putting the child first, Ms. Sunstrum-Mann has set the stage for collaborative thinking for years to come. She is an unwavering advocate for kids with medical complexity, and is actively involved in local, provincial and national forums. Faced with the challenge of insufficient and inadequate space, Ms. Sunstrum-Mann envisioned and developed a multi-site model to provide service throughout the region, and she has successfully brought partners on side with these plans for a new facility supporting research, care and inclusion for kids with special needs in the Durham Region.

2017 Tribute Award for Leadership

Dr. Ronit Mesterman

Dr. Ronit Mesterman, Medical Director for Developmental Services and Regional Autism Spectrum Disorder Services, McMaster Children’s Hospital

Dr. Mesterman is founding Chair of the Physicians of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy (PONDA) network, representing clinicians, researchers and leaders across Ontario who work with kids with special needs. Since its founding in 2011, PONDA has become uniquely positioned to contribute to discussions with policy makers, professionals and caregivers, to address the challenges in caring for kids with special needs and their families, seeking to optimize services across the province so kids with special needs live their best lives.

2016 Award of Excellence

Dr. Mary Thain

Dr. Mary Thain has been the Medical Director of Five Counties Children’s Centre in Peterborough for more than 40 years. She has been their only physician and has established the standard for excellence in rural medical services. Her extensive physician networks and lifelong commitment to continuous learning has ensured that the care and treatment that children receive in the Peterborough area is the leading edge. The care and expertise that she provides allows families to remain close to home and benefit from the latest treatments.

In addition to her local leadership, Dr. Thain served as Chair of the Medical Directors meeting at the OACRS conference for many years. This leadership has fostered both communication and collaboration amongst the physicians and has led to several joint initiatives including a peer review system for physicians and the development of a diagnostic database. Dr. Thain is a Developmental Paediatrician that has made significant contributions to promoting excellence in health care to children with disabilities both in her community and the province.

From left to right: Kent Stringham, Board of Directors - Five Counties Children's Centre, Dr. Mary Thain, Diane Pick, Chief Executive Officer - Five Counties Children's Centre

James Robinson Public School

James Robinson Public School is a known for its culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Located in south-east Markham, it is the first school in the York Region District School Board to build a universally accessible eco schoolyard that allows children of all abilities to play together in an outdoor classroom, accessible garden and play area. The school has also installed a paved learning trail and accessible outdoor amphitheatre. This space ensures the children with special needs including those with multiple needs can be included in activities such as gym and recess.

Recently the school converted their library in to a universally accessible learning space, allowing students with differing physical, sensory and learning and/or mental health challenges to create, re-purpose, explore, invent and innovate. To support their students with multiple exceptionalities the school fosters partnerships with families and other service providers in order to provide the best support to students. The culture of inclusivity extends beyond the specialty classrooms and hallways. 

From left to right: Laura Meffen, Parent - James Robinson Public School, Lara Chebaro, Former Principal - James Robinson Public School, Deb Manni, Teacher - James Robinson Public School

2016 Partnership Award

Smilezone Foundation

Smilezone Foundation is an independent charity committed to “putting smiles on children’s faces.” The charity, founded by Adam Graves and Scott Bachly, established the overarching mission of assisting children, and their families, who are facing difficult times and health challenges. Smilezone’s mission is to create, build and transform areas in hospitals, private treatment and development centres, and children’s clinics, in order to improve the lives of children facing illness, disabilities, and physical and emotional obstacles—ultimately putting a smile on their faces.

Since its inception, Smilezone has partnered with a number of children’s treatment centres across the province. Their work is not only a cosmetic refresh of various spaces but a functional improvement as well. Centres have indicated, “As agencies we provide the day to day clinical service for our clients, Smilezone complements our work by providing a holistic experience from the moment the child walks through the door.” Smilezone has brought an incredible lasting impact to our sector that truly does allow each of our Centres to help our kids realize their potential. 

Jennifer Churchill, Chief Executive Officer, OACRS with Adam Graves, Co-Founder, Smilezone Foundation

2015 Advocacy Award

Dr. Peter Rosenbaum

Throughout his career Peter Rosenbaum has made an enormous impact for children with disabilities and their families not only in the province of Ontario but across the country and around the world. The focus of his work: helping kids to be kids first.

Over the past several decades, Peter has been engaged many Children’s Treatment Centres in establishing and implementing best practices in family-centred care, including the role of a key worker, and measuring progress using the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC). We have benefited from Peter’s work on outcome measurement and classification and his vision for a system that focuses on quality of life for kids with disabilities. Throughout his career, his has patiently and persistently challenged us to practice with “quality of life” foremost in our work with kids and families.

When we have asked for help, he has responded with warmth, honesty and the best knowledge and support he can provide. He has advocated on behalf of children, youth and families with knowledge, passion, persistence, humour and innovation, in a way that makes us all better in serving kids and families.

2015 Leadership Award

Judy Sharpe

Over the past decade Judy Sharpe, Executive Director of One Kids Place worked fervently and adeptly to fulfill the strategic vision of families and community members of Nippising-Muskoka- Parry Sound to establish a Children’s Treatment Centre. Starting with just 3 staff, under Judy’s leadership One Kids Place has grown to 72 full time and 27 part time staff. Judy’s leadership and integrity are evident in her ability to effectively bring services under one roof in order to better support children and families in her community. Judy is admired by her colleagues across the province for her leadership, hard work and commitment to families. She is recognized as an innovator and change agent. Many describe her as a leader who is dynamic and leads with respect, fairness and grace.

2015 Award of Excellence

Louise Paul

Louise Paul is the past Chair of the OACRS Board of Directors and is the Executive Director of the Children’s Treatment Network. Louise was the first Executive Director in over 10 years to take on the role of OACRS Board Chair, her commitment to the association and the importance of speaking in a united voice is always evident. She wears many hats- often at the same time, including those of strategist and mentor. Louise is trusted by government, respected by her colleagues and admired by many. During this past year she has gone above and beyond to provide support to the association as a whole. OACRS is a stronger organization as a result of her leadership.

2014 Leadership Award

Dorothy Harvey

Dorothy Harvey exemplifies what it means to be a leader in health care. Across the province, Dorothy's colleagues recognize her as someone who facilitates change, is a champion of children, youth and adults with special needs and as a clinician who is always challenging us to improve. She is an amazing blend of technical savvy, clinical expertise and great leadership with an eye on the horizon. Dorothy says her role as a mother grounds her in her daily work - putting from and centre her connection to why CTCs do what they do.

Dorothy is an active member and leader in many OACRS-based provincial working groups, task forces, and pilot projects. For many years, she has been a leader in designing and promoting the annual OACRS Conference. Her leadership has helped build and strengthen the critical connection between front-line staff across the sector to increase our capacity to develop and deliver quality and specialized service for children, youth and families.

2013 Leadership Award

Patricia Baldwin

Over a decade ago, as a result of her interest in supporting the self-determination of youth with disabilities, Patricia Baldwin began a journey that would lead to one of the most fundamental shifts in how therapists approach their work with clients at Thames Valley Children’s Centre in London, Ontario.

As a champion of the relationship-centred practice service delivery model, Patricia introduced, trained and then embedded the use of Solution-Focused Coaching (SFC) an evidence-based model which focuses on a strengths based, collaborative, and goal-oriented approach when working with children and youth with disabilities and the key adults in their lives.

Patricia has provided SFC training to 6 other OACRS organizations and 9 service agencies that have all identified staff to continue building internal capacity. Thanks to Patricia, well over 300 paediatric rehabilitation specialists are using Solution-Focused Coaching today.

2013 Award Of Excellence

Linda Kenny (left)

As CEO of OACRS, Linda energized the children's rehab sector. She focused on the association's role as a provincial advocate for children and youth with disabilities and the need for an integrated and streamlined service delivery system.

Linda fostered a culture of engagement with members, governments and other stakeholders. She pushed the association to think differently about how to work with government. She moved the sector beyond the thinking of "what's good for the sector" to positioning us to frame all that we do in terms of what's best for kids and families. She recognized significant contributions made by individuals and organizations for leadership, excellence and innovation that support OACRS' mandate. The Tribute Awards are testament to Linda's legacy of partnerships and participation in the work of OACRS.

Caroline Stone (right)

Caroline knows first-hand the challenge of raising a children with special needs. It was while she was advocating for her daughter, Shannon, she realized the need to advocate on a provincial level, which brought her to become a member of the OACRS Board of Directors. For the past seven years, Caroline has been instrumental in setting up governance policies and practices consistent with best practices of board accountability and transparency. In her understated but incredibly persuasive manner, she was always able to link her experiences to what parents celebrate and struggle with day-to-day in raising a child with special needs. She speaks passionately about how CTCs and OACRS are essential to the service system in raising the bar to help every child reach his or her potential.

2012 Leadership Award Recipients

Stephen Swatridge (left) and Anne Huot (right)

Stephen Swatridge chaired the Project Executive Committee. His leadership of the executive team for the project ensured an effective, transparent and accountable governance structure to ensure that all the participating centres were moving forward in the same direction.

From the beginning, Stephen’s integrity and credibility marked him as the de facto chair of the project executive. A strong advocate for the collaboration was required to develop and implement a project of this magnitude and complexity, Stephen took on this leadership role amongst his peers. He has led the group to a greater level of trust and confidence as a sector and created and modelled a unifying force within OACRS. His commitment to our sector being “stronger as one” is a legacy that will be felt for years to come.

Anne Huot is the Project’s Director and was recognized for her leadership of the Project Steering Committee. Anne was a driving force behind the development of a sound and supportable business case in the early days, while CRISP was still a glimmer in the eyes of a few. Anne’s approach to teamwork, communication, attention to task and motivation has positioned her as a leader who is well admired by her peers. She has been pivotal in the success of this project as Chair of the Steering Committee and Project Director.

A committee colleague describes Anne as tenacious and a force for good. Her vision has always been focused on the end goal: improvement of care and service delivery for children and families.

2012 Partnership Award Recipient

Client Rehabilitation Information System Project (CRISP) Steering Committee

Since January 2011, the CRISP Steering Committee has been working develop and implement a client information system customized for the unique needs of the children’s rehabilitation sector. This dedicated team was made up of two representatives from each participating CTC, software provider GoldCare Inc. and our project management firm of Healthtech Consultants, have created a customized tool for our sector.

Regular teleconference meetings and participation in monthly meetings by all project team members was imperative and served as a strong motivator of team spirit, project excellence and planning engagement. Joint problem solving and working towards common goals in a positive, encouraging and respectful atmosphere inspired and motivated team members. Every team member had a contribution to make – leadership, practical problem solving, issue identifiers, anxiety busters, clinical expertise and technological know how.

As a result of this tremendous commitment to CRISP, a true network has emerged. The project team has learned from challenges and best practices, resulting in a new level of support and collaboration across the sector. The team will continue to collaborate to develop standardized assessment templates for specific disciplines, sharing best practices and utilizing report data to inform CTC program planning.

Throughout this project, we have used a canoe analogy to represent the commitment, resilience and motivation for the project. To accomplish a goal of this magnitude, it required a trust, a belief that in the end everyone would be in the same canoe, would be paddling together and would be heading in the right direction – together.

The legacy of their work will live on to benefit our sector and most importantly the children and families we serve. Congratulations to the members of the OACRS CRISP Steering Committee

2011 Advocacy Award

Lynn Ziraldo

For the past 36 years, Lynn has been a tireless advocate for children with special needs. As the parent of two sons with special needs, Lynn has taken her knowledge and passion about services needed by kids and families to leaders, so that they can make critical decisions with the information they need. Through her involvement with the Learning Disabilities Association locally, provincially, and nationally, she has advocated for all students with special needs. And by leading and participating in local, provincial, and national boards, committees, and workshops, she has impacted education policy and practice, always focusing on equity, inclusion, and quality.

Lynn continues to be a trailblazer for families of kids with special needs, and a strong voice that urges us to work together—an optimistic, patient, respectful, (and respectfully forceful when needed), knowledgeable, humorous, and child and family-centred voice! She has used her voice to articulate social, health, education, and legal issues to educate leaders and policy-makers, and collaborates with them to find solutions. Leaders have listened to that voice, and it has made all the difference for kids with special needs.

2010 Advocacy Award

Parent Advocacy Committee of the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre
The Parent Advocacy Committee of the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre was formed in 2009 to develop strategies and actions to bring government attention to the needs of children in our sector. They enthusiastically began a letter writing campaign to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. When Laurel Broten was appointed our new Minister in October 2009, the parents of Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre were pleased to host her in one of her first CTC visits.

Building on the work undertaken by this energetic group of parents, OACRS devised the “Every Kid Matters” family postcard campaign, resulting in over 500 cards being received by Minister Broten from every part of the province.

OACRS, its member CTCs and families work very hard to develop a positive relationship with MCYS.

This past year is evidence of that work and the strong impact parent advocates have on government representatives.

OACRS is delighted to acknowledge the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre Parent Advocacy Committee for their initiative, enthusiasm, and hard work.