Message from the Foundation’s Executive Director

As a child, I had a speech impediment. I couldn’t pronounce my “F”s and “T”s properly, and often confused the two. I recall quite well the many sessions I had with speech therapists to correct this situation. The sessions worked. In fact, they worked so well that they inspired my older sister, who at the time was considering various career paths, to go to university and become a speech pathologist. Now, as a father of five children, I know from firsthand experience how the speech therapists at the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent have helped some of them overcome speech challenges of their own. To watch their eyes light up when they realize, often for the first time, that they’ve pronounced a word correctly, well, that’s just part of the magic of the place.

During my career to date, I’ve had the privilege of co-chairing the United Way of Chatham-Kent campaign and of serving on Municipal Council. Both of these opportunities, in addition to my time in the private sector, have opened my eyes to the amazing work that is done by the various social service and not-for-profit agencies across our community of Chatham-Kent. Their contributions and achievements are nothing short of spectacular, especially given the limited resources, both financial and human, that they must operate with. I’m sincerely proud of them all.

The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent is one such agency. The nature of the work that their highly trained and caring therapists do with children from birth through to the late teens is simply miraculous. From physiotherapy to occupational therapy to adapted recreation programs such as music or aquatic therapy, the differences they make in the quality of life for these young people are both meaningful and heart-warming. Just stop for a second and think about it. Helping children crawl, sit, stand or walk, helping children improve their motor skills or range of movement, helping children communicate and socially interact more successfully. While there is much good work in society, at the most basic level of humanity and with our obligation to be caretakers for the generations that follow, I believe no other work is more important. I believe no other place compares.

The Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent was established with the sole purpose of improving the financial and operational sustainability of the Children’s Treatment Centre. Increasingly, community need is growing faster than funding from traditional sources such as the government. While those funds in support of core programming are critically important, and the Children’s Treatment Centre must continue to advocate for greater government investment in our youth, many of their most valued programs and services exist today only to the extent that additional funds can be raised by volunteers from sources within and beyond the community. It is through the ongoing and often remarkable generosity of families, citizens, organizations and businesses that the spirit and the task of helping our children develop their full potential continues at this truly special place

You will be hearing more about the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent in the months and years ahead, as the Foundation goes about its timely and urgent work. Chatham-Kent’s children can’t wait. For each of them, the clock ticks. They need our help now. They need you.

Art

Art Stirling
Executive Director
Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent