1957 1967 2022 1997 1987 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 2021-2022
parents who wanted more for their children, Clements has promoted acceptance, inclusion, and improved quality of life for so many. We are proud of our long history of agility; anticipating trends in the creation of programs and services responsive to individual and family needs. For the past two and a half years, when a pandemic resulted in dramatic changes and uncertainty, staff drew upon collective strengths and resilience to support children, youth, adults, and families in meeting developmental challenges. It’s equally important to celebrate our successes. This year’s report includes stories about people’s experiences with Clements - stories of impact, generosity, and caring. Our appreciation to each and every one of you for your part in those stories and for making our work possible.
bySinceFamiliesClementsfamiliesneedswithandchildren,independencebelonging,bringingyears,hope,andtoyouth,adultslivingdevelopmentalandtheiriswhyCentreforexists.ourfoundingpioneering
Did Know?You
All people are entitled to live and participate as full citizens in the community of their choice, with the same rights, obligations, and responsibilities as other citizens
Clements Centre Society envisions a community in which all individuals are included, valued, and celebrated EQUITY
We bring hope, belonging, and independence to children, youth, and adults with developmental needs and their families by offering programs and services that promote participation and engagement
Clements Centre was started in 1957 by a group of parents who wanted an alternative to placing their childreninstitutionsinto far from home.
Our Mission Our Vision
Our Values
1 2021-2022 Annual Report
All people should have access to needed services that achieve maximal outcomes INCLUSION
All people must have their personal autonomy protected, with every effort made to nurture and enhance self-determination
AUTONOMY
All people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect ACCESS
For
Our Values
Dianne Hinton Chief Executive Officer Leslie Welin Board Chair 65
From the CEO and Board Chair
2021-2022 Annual Report 2
My name is Lori, I’m 24 and was born and raised here in Cowichan where I live with my three kids. 2020 was a rough year for me as I lost my boyfriend to suicide. I was literally in the dark, drinking, having a tough time.
Over the past year at Mindful Mouthful, the team has been working hard to create long-term sustainability through increased production and sales and an expanding menu. They have set big goals and continue to meet and exceed them! Go team! If you haven’t seen the 315 Pie Day or Baking Competition videos yet, visit our blog at www.clements.org/blog
Making the World a Better Place...
One Bite at a Time
A Letter from Lori
One day on Facebook I saw information for the Blade Runners program through the House of Friendship, so I connected and got in just in time. It was amazing. Blade Runners is a job skills program, and I got a bunch of certificates out of it, but I also got a practicum placement at the Mindful Mouthful.
I was a bit nervous starting here, but two of my brothers are autistic, and my little sister has ADHD, so I was pretty comfortable. This is something I’ve always wanted to do and just didn’t know where to start. After my practicum, I got offered a 3-month temporary paid job, and when that was coming to an end, I didn’t know what I was going to do long-term. My grandpa was so happy that I was working here, he pushed me so hard for me to do better. I’m finally doing that, but sadly he passed away in March from COVID. When I got the offer to extend my temporary job to be permanent, I felt like it was his doing.
My favourite thing about Mindful is how everyone makes me feel welcomed – they always check on me and give me hugs. Days when I’m feeling down, it makes me feel better. Having a boss like Jackie makes me love my job even more. Every day is a brand-new start, and I really like my work family. I finally found my happy place here. My plan before coming to Mindful was to get away from Duncan as soon as COVID was gone, but now I have a reason to stay.
As the haircut neared the end, Taryn’s mom arrived and offered physical assistance.
When Opportunity
3 2021-2022 Annual Report
“Taryn is… she’s just her own person. She’s non-verbal, so she communicates in different ways, and she can be energetic. I am just so proud of her.”
& Independence Align
Sitting with Sara Lawrence at Ryall House on a calm, spring day, listening to her describe her experience working with Taryn, who lives at Ryall, her pride is almost tangible. “I knew she could do this on her Saraown.”is sharing about a recent experience in which she and Taryn, aged 37, took a big step towards increased independence –a step that had never been Forattempted.almost 20 years, Taryn has had her hair cut by the same out-of-town hairdresser, and always with her mom’s support. Taryn’s disability involves physical expressions which, coupled with her energetic nature, have made the hair cut process difficult without the use of some level of physical support for safety. “I’ve gone with her at times, to watch and see how things go, and it can be quite a traumatic experience for Taryn,” shares Sara Lawrence, Ryall House staff member.
One day, circumstances aligned: Taryn’s hairdresser wasn’t available, and her mom was running late. Sara took a risk and asked Taryn’s mom if she would be willing to try something new. With confidence, experience, and a compassionate approach, Sara contacted a local salon – Alley Cat – to gauge their interest and openness to being inclusive in this way. “I said, I think if I can stand in front of her and do some one-to-one eye contact and keep her focus, we can make the cut. So, I brought that forward to the hairdresser and she said, ‘I’m willing to try!’ “ When the day came, Taryn’s mom, who intended to come and provide support, was running late. “We put the cape over her, and she was so excited –she had this brightness in her eyes. She sat there and rocked a little bit, so I got down in front of her and began to do some one-to-one stuff – I copied what she was doing and made sounds that she really likes. She locked eyes with me and stayed very still.”
2021-2022 Annual Report 4
“I love dogs. I give Jasmine hugs and it makes mehappy.”feel Brings Comfort Research shows the impact of having a furry friend nearby is immense – there are proven physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits that come from just a few minutes of connecting with an animal. And while not everyone is able to have a pet at home, thanks to Sandy Anderson and her lovely dog Jasmine, Clements Centre has been able to offer this comforting experience to people served every week for the past five years.
“I just said, ‘it’s OK – I think we’re almost done here and it’s going great.’ Taryn’s mom sat down and watched. I could see the tears rolling down her face.” Taryn has lived at Ryall House for 6 years, and during this time has grown comfortable both with staff and in doing things on her own. Seeing this increased independence in action was incredibly profound for everyone involved. “After the haircut was over, Taryn got up and gave her mom a big, huge hug. Her mom was so proud of her – seeing that Taryn can do this with minimal help from someone else was a big Throughoutdeal.” her sharing of this story, Sara is beaming with a radiant smile. “I love my job. I love to be able to promote independence, doing different things every day.”
Tracy shares how Jasmine’s visits to a Clements program where her son Joshua attends has helped him to become more comfortable outside the home: “We have always owned dogs but unfortunately Josh was chased and bitten by a stranger’s dog when he was younger and is now very fearful of dogs when outside the home. Jasmine is a calm, sweet tempered dog and a soothing presence, and Josh has become quite relaxed and less stressed around her, and better able to stay nearby when she visits the program.”
Read the full story at clementscentre.org/blog -Christine
Sara and Taryn’s experience is an example of Clements Centre’s mission – genuine community inclusion – in action. Sara took a risk trying something new as did Taryn, her mom, and the hairdresser. Because of this experience, everyone involved has increased confidence, a new perspective, and renewed understanding about Taryn’s diverse abilities. We are deeply honoured to do this work and are grateful for the innovative, kind, and thoughtful individuals who are drawn to providing the best care possible.
St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy
Going Above
Beyond Technology
5 2021-2022 Annual Report
“When I first started, I would share colouring pages with people in the LOCAL program and plaster the back wall of the display with them. Then I would notice people walking by and pointing out what they’d made, voicing pride that it was displayed – I think it provides a real sense of belonging and wellWebeing.”are so grateful to Pauline for sharing her gifts with all of us through this space and are reminded of the incredible impact volunteers have in this community. If you’re interested in volunteering with Clements Centre, we would love to hear from you! & In 2021, Clements Centre’s Children & Family Support Program (CFS) was the grateful recipient of a $10,000 grant from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation to support the purchase of various technologies for their afterschool, spring and summer programs. Since that time, the CFS team and parents of youth attending the program have witnessed the emergence of peer mentors, unlikely friendships, and incredible Craigtransformations.Webb,CFS Program Coordinator shares the impact of this technology on a particular “Forparticipant.Jared, social engagement has developed into a life skill. Before he began utilizing this technology to help other kids, previous peer interaction tended to be dismissive and involve saying things like ‘you will figure it out.’ When we got this tech, suddenly he would pull up a chair, sit down and show his peers how to use it.” Jared is 14 and is entering grade nine this year - he has been attending the CFS program since he was in grade six. Jared’s
If you have visited our Clements Street location over the past few years, you will have likely experienced the warm and welcoming presence of Pauline Campone. Having joined the Clements team during the height of the pandemic helping to greet families and sanitize high-touch surfaces, Pauline’s connection to this work spans back to 2015. Her son Craig has been an integral part of Clements Centre for 7 years, and as anyone who has met both mother and son will know, kindness runs in the family. Outside of her working hours, Pauline volunteers her time creating beautiful, colourful, and artistic displays in the main lobby area, breathing life into this otherwise under-utilized space. While she claims to have never been a crafty person, the vibrant creativity and detail she brings to these displays say otherwise, and her displays are thoroughly enjoyed by hundreds of people who visit this space. Pauline shares that some of her favourite pieces she’s facilitated have been collaborative.
For him to recognize and accept that he was being controlling and not get defensive about it was huge.”
“Kids are learning fine motor skills, letter recognition, coding, communication and problemsolving skills. We have technology that’s helping kids engage and facilitating peer relationships and teaching opportunities, so they’re working on that social connection. They get to be the leader and they get to teach.”
For Jared, recognizing himself as a leader is helping to build confidence. “I guess I’m a bit of a leader, just that kind of a person, you know? I see something and I think, oh, that makes sense, we can do this, we can organize that. It was nice to be able to like help the other guys out, because I taught them something and they learned... yay!
2021-2022 Annual Report 6
Katrina echoes Craig’s sentiments about her son’s social development and shares how she’s seen these life skills translated into their home “Ilife.have heard lots of good stuff from Anna and Craig about how he has been working with the kids and not being controlling about teaching them. When we went camping, we were setting up the tent and I looked at him and I said, ‘Wow, you need to step back, you’re being very controlling.’ And he just looked at me and said, ‘Yeah, I am. Okay, how do you want to do this?’
mother Katrina reflects on her decision to engage Jared in the CFS program. “For me, it was important that he got to interact with other kids like him and to see that he’s not the only one, he’s not being singled out – that there are other kids that have difficulties.”
How a TELUS Friendly Future Grant helped to facilitate positive change in local youth.
for Good Program staff, Anna Quist, shares many of the predicted outcomes have to fruition throughout the past six months.
Who says learning can’t be fun?“
We are deeply grateful to TELUS for investing in the future of local youth and helping to facilitate such valuable learning and growth opportunities.
At that time, David was getting daycare from a gal in Cobble Hill. Many years later, when the government came in with their plan to close anything that looked like a facility, Bill McKenzie, I think his name was - was a social worker in Duncan -he found this lovely place for David to stay with a woman named Bonnie. David stayed with Bonnie for 20 years and she brought him into Clements. That’s when he started here. [David] was born in 1962, and he died at age 44. And that was the time that he was in Clements, from 1982 until 2006. He was the best thing that ever happened to our family. We had a mixed family, and he was the glue that held us all Itogether.retiredin 1992 and they had a retirement party for everyone who was retiring at the end of the year. I remember Tom Stanko said to me, “you’ll have time now to be part of Clements Centre!” and I said, you know – I might just do that. So, I went off to Ontario that summer and when I came back, I found out I was a member of Clements ICentre!brought people on board - that was one of the good things I did. That was my job, to gather up members. I got Lois [Gage] to take a couple years as president, I got Marsha Robinson to spend the year with us. I encouraged Krystyna Thomson, and... who is still there, Leslie Welin! We had good people. I just soaked it up. I didn’t have that much to offer, I just was there on the board to speak up, speak my mind.
1 2021-2022 Annual Report As we reflect on the past sixty-five years of Clements’ service, we are reminded of - and humbled bythe many people who have helped support and shape this organization along the way. One of those pillars is Mrs. Helen Evans. Helen is a former Cowichan Valley teacher, having spent more than 30 years imparting knowledge and lessons of kindness and acceptance. She is also a former Clements board member having served for 20 years. Most importantly, Helen is the mother of the late Mr. David Hamilton, whose warm presence and keen sense of humor still resonate throughout the Society years after his passing in Helen2006.recently celebrated her 90th birthday, and in honour of this monumentous occasion, a significant gift was made to Clements Centre. We sat down with Helen to talk about her life, her son David, her time with Clements, and how it felt having her legacy recognized with this gift... Here’s some of what she shared with us. I first throughaboutheard[Clements]theHealthUnit–theycameandtalkedtomeaboutDavid.
A Legacy of Love, Learning, 7 2021-2022 Annual Report
and Nickels50,000 2021-2022 Annual Report 8
What Clements does, it’s so educational. It’s so good... to teach acceptance. I can’t think of anything more important than that. The physical qualities it offers are incredible, but they are matched by the intellectual and emotional qualities they bring. I think that’s really important, and that’s why I’ve hung on to Clements as long as I can. I still feel like I belong there.
2021-2022 Annual Report 2 Then we had the thing with getting the elevator and oh boy, I took that very seriously, the money involved and the responsibility. Then we got that wonderful gift from the Nickle Family WeFoundation.hadtohave more room and we couldn’t go outward so we had to go up! The Nickle Family Foundation gave us this wonderful gift and I said, ‘well, the Nickles gave us that [$10,000] to start with, I’ll raise the rest a nickel at a Sincetime!”then, I’ve gotten nickels from very strange places. A friends’ sister sends them from Ottawa, a friend from Wales left her nickels with me. I go out for lunch often, and every time I do, somebody will say, ‘oh! I found three nickels’ and I take them, bring them home, and pop them in the Everyjar.time somebody asked me about nickels, I would say, ‘well I have to tell you why I collect nickels...’ and so, I’ve been to many events and anytime somebody would ask about nickels, I’d stand up and do my speech. Between 2010 and 2020, Helen Evans collected approximately 50,000 nickels –that’s 550 pounds worth! In 2021, Simon, a member of the Nickle Family, saw on the television ‘Helen Evans of Duncan BC turns 90!’ Simon, who is now a young man but was only a small child when he presented the original $10,000 gift to Clements Centre for the elevator, reached out to his family and recommended they make a gift in honour of Helen’s birthday. Like so many people associated with Clements Centre, Helen’s dedication has made an enduring impression on him. That had me in tears, I’ll tell you. I was just thrilled with the $10,000 donation.
Off the coast of Chemainus, just a short ferry ride across a narrow section of the Salish Sea, lies Penelakut Island - an 8.66 km2 island that is home to approximately 300 members of the Penelakut Band.
1 2021-2022 Annual Report9 2021-2022 Annual Report
Sundrops Centre for Child Development provides developmental supports to children and their families, anywhere within the Cowichan region - a catchment that includes Penelakut Island. Over the years, Sundrops services have been available to families but not always onisland. Transportation issues and a lack of a contact person on Penelakut created barriers to many families accessing services.
The Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary stepped up to the plate, providing $15,000 in funding to support transportation and service delivery, and soon the team connected with Lottie Cook, an Early Years Outreach worker with Kw’umut Lelum.
Oncesafety.a
BUILDING BRIDGES, CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS
One year before the pandemic rocked the globe, Sundrops’ Early Intervention (EI) Therapy teams began hatching a plan to make developmental therapy supports more frequently available to families in their home community. Still, they faced barriers to making their plan come to life - funding, physical space, and a local Penelakut contact.
The last hurdle was physical space. With no available dedicated therapy space to use on the island, the team got creative and equipped a U-Haul van with all the equipment necessary to support families outside, creating an extra layer of COVID month, the EI team, consisting of a Speech-Language Pathologist, a Physiotherapist, and an Occupational Therapist, made the trek over on the ferry and parked their mobile therapy van in the parking lot of the health centre, spending the day connecting with local families.
“Providing the transportation with the truck that we took over allowed us to control hygiene and confidentiality and have a separate space,” shares Joanna Felton, Sundrops Speech-Language Pathologist. “It also made it known that we were a presence in the community.”
Sundrops Centre Early Intervention Therapists provide outreach services to Penelakut Island
“We are trying to make it barrier free,” shares Joanna. “We’re not using many forms to sign, we welcome families to come with whomever brings the child. It’s reflecting the idea that it’s the community that raises a child, so it could be an aunty or cousin or anyone who brings the child and we consider that consent for service. We are practicing listening a lot more, not bombarding people with questions but following their lead when giving information about concerns they may have.“
Over time and with the construction of a Kw’umut Lelum Youth Building, in 2022 the EI team was provided a dedicated space to use inside the health unit, enabling them to retire their U-Haul. “We show up, set up some mats and toys, and sometimes see up to 7 kids in a day,” shares Colleen.
“Feedback from the mothers and families who attended visits with the team was always very positive,” shares Lottie Cook, Early Years Outreach worker. “They were eager to learn more about what they could do with their babies at home to give them the healthiest and best practice for growth and development. I am grateful to have had this partnership with the Reflectingteam.”onthe differences these services have made to Penelekut families, Colleen shares the story of one child who was having difficulties walking. “We were working with a young girl who was experiencing difficulty with her ankle alignment. She was fatiguing easily at daycare and not able to walk as far or as often as other kids her age. Since there’s not an orthotist in the community, we were able to connect with one off-island and get her leg braces which should hopefully help her to walk further and eventually manage tasks like climbing stairs more easily. We were able to visit with her, identify the need, and get the right people involved.” We raise our hands in gratitude to the Penelakut Health Centre, Kw’utmut Lelum Child & Family Services, the Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary, and Penelakut community members who have welcomed Sundrops staff onto their land and into their community to support families and children to thrive. Huy tseep q’u.
Coming from a traditional medical-model, the Sundrops EI team understood that for many Penelakut members, this approach could be a barrier to accessing service. The team worked to consciously decolonize their approach to providing these supports, making adjustments wherever they could to enable culturally safe and relevant support services.
To learn how you can clementscentre.orgchildren,supportyouth,andadultswithdiverseabilities,visit 11 2021-2022 Annual Report for celebrating This list is based on previous fiscal year ending March 31, 2022. We have done our best to ensure this list is accurate. If you do not see your name, please contact us at 250-746-4135. Your generousity helped to bring hope, belonging $10,000 - $49,999 $1,000 - $4,999 $5,000 - $9,999 Government of Canada Enabling Accessibility Fund $50,000 - $99,999 Province of British Columbia United(Gaming)Way of British Columbia Allen & Loreen Vandekerkhove Family Foundation First West Foundation Island NickleJumpstartFordCharityFamilyFoundation Pacific Blue Cross Health TELUSFoundationFuture is Friendly LadysmithFoundationHealth Care Auxiliary Beverley Angus B.P.O.E. Duncan Lodge #69 GrantAnonymous(Elks)&Lynne Clement Closson Classic Ball Tournament District of North Cowichan Duncan Lions Club continued $500 - $999 Helen WestMinkeShawniganChristinePURICAMillLucilleJudithGolfTimKrystynaTaceyRoyalMcDanielAnonymousJohnDianneEvansHinton&RuthHowellsFamilyFoundationBankofCanadaRuffner&DouglasThomsonHortonsforKidsSociety&ErdmannKnaack&AlfredKocurekBayGardenClubRyanLakeSchoolVanderweideCoastPreFab $200 - $499 Patricia Angus Joan DuncanLindsayAndrewAllisonMarilynEllishaCherryArmstrongBeckettBlackburnCarter&AlanCrispCudlipDenietolisChristianReformedChurch $200 - $499 continued Peter SpencerEricRoyalDavidJenniferSharleenNeilAnonymousBruceSimonNiconAnonymousMintRudyLynn’sAnonymousNormaCatherineMargaretAnonymousJohnathanMarileeGoochGreyeHamilton-IrvingHudsonHudsonIrvingVitaminGalleryMassimoHoldingsLtd.DevelopmentsLimitedNorrisOvansPeters&JamesPhelanPolackRobertsonCanadianLegionBranch134RundquistSchmidt Jean & Pat Scholefield Somenos Construction LTD. Terry MichaelStenberg&Barbara Stone Leslie & Darrel Welin Raymond AnonymousWheeler
2021-2022 Annual Report 12 diverse abilities in Cowichan! Sustaining Monthly Donors and independence to more than 1000 people and their families last year.
Recognizing 40 Years of Support
AnnaLeslieLynLindaSamanthaMariaRyanChelseaJudyZoeSoniaLeahDonnaDianneKelseyAlisonGageGarnettHighstedHintonHobsonHokansonLatterLaucknerMacNeilMajorMilneMocorroOlaussenRoseneckTaylor-Scott&DarrelWelinWilliams Monthly donors are integral to supporting and sustaining Clements programs and work to enhance the quality of life of people we serve. Become a monthly donor today! Learn more clementscentre.org/donateat
Looking back on the past six decades of service, we acknowledge this work would not have been possible without the generous support of the local community. We wish to extend our heartfelt gratefulness to the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department, who have supported our Sundrops Centre for Child Development for more than 40 years. Their kindness, dedication, bravery, and committment to community betterment is truly unparallelled.
Nancy Brennan Sean & Nancy Davison Peter Fitzpatrick Lois
13 2021-2022 Annual Report 20 YEARS Wendy Zeer 15 yEARS DonnaDebbieMacPheeOliwa 10 YEARS Julieta Harris Liz Manraj Jay McQuarrie 5 YEARS Gloria KimberleyBrandiBernardCairnsHarrison STATISTICSSERVICE 194 ADULTS SERVED within the Cowichan regionAN OVERVIEW 97,360 SERVICE HOURS provided by expert staff homeshare20%residential6%SERVICEAGEcommunityinclusion37%outreach37% 19-3037% 31-4023% 41-5013% 27%51+ LOCATIONS Cobblefrom Hill to Duncan CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE Sheila Coogan Sonia Latter 25 YEARS at Clements! LIVINGCOMMUNITY Clements is blessed to have so many long-term, loyal staff who bring their talents, expertise, and skills to work each and every day, helping to enrich the lives of the people we support.
2021-2022 FINANCIALS 2021-2022 Annual Report 14 for the year ending March 31, 2022 OPERATING REVENUE OPERATING EXPENSES Government Contracts Mindful Mouthful Revenue 1% Donations & Grants Other Income* Program Salaries & Service Delivery 85% Occupancy Office Expenses *Includes interest, fees for service, rental and misc. revenue 1,050 MORE THAN children and families accessing one or more service through Sundrops Centre for Child Development 1779 UNIQUE interactionsservice & AGE SERVICE66%0-5 15-18+10-1415%6-911%8% early 7%&child71%programsinterventionschool-agedsupports10%supportedchilddevelopment12%careresourcereferral56 17 2 51675 4712 11 18 68 3361SUNDROPS 11 Ladysmith 16 Penelakut/Thetis 68 Chemainus 61 Crofton 516 Duncan 17 Youbou 56 Lake Cowichan 2 Honeymoon Bay 33 Cowichan Bay 47 Mill Bay 75 Shawnigan Lake 12 Malahat
Clements Centre for Families 5856 Clements St • Duncan BC V9L 3W3 • 250-746-4135 www.clementscentre.org • info@clementscentre.org Clements Centre Society • Charitable Registration Number: 107269466 RR 0001
