Reflecting on three decades: From camp counsellor to Easter Seals Ontario Board member
I grew up just 10 minutes away from Easter Seals Camp Woodeden in London, Ontario. My dad, having worked at the camp in his younger days, suggested I look into their offerings when I was starting high school. I discovered they were holding a two-week camp leader-in-training program and decided to give it a shot. As a naïve and a bit nervous 15-year-old, the experience marked my first exposure to Easter Seals Ontario.
Those two weeks of training to become a camp counsellor were an absolute blast and life-changing, and they set the stage for my ongoing connection with Easter Seals. The opportunity came up for me to stay on as a counsellor for a one-week family camp, and the joy and friendships I experienced during that short period of time were truly remarkable. When they asked me to return the following summer to work as a counsellor, I jumped at the chance.
“Although I was initially interested in a career in engineering, my time at Woodeden sparked a passion for helping people, leading me to pursue a path in health sciences.”
From 1994 to 1998, I spent every summer “working” at Woodeden, if you consider having fun and forging lifelong friendships work. One summer I had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Teen Independence Program. This program equipped young individuals with the skills needed for the transition to adulthood, particularly for those heading off to post-secondary school. During the camp off-season, I participated in a weekend respite camp every other week at Woodeden, which mostly catered to local kids.
These experiences prompted a shift in my priorities. Although I was initially interested in a career in engineering, my time at Woodeden sparked a passion for helping people, leading me to pursue a path in health sciences. Through my involvement with Woodeden, I also became familiar with the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and developed a strong desire to work there. My goal was to apply the skills and experiences I gained at Woodeden to my professional life.
Following university, I relocated to Toronto to complete the respiratory therapy program and secured a position at SickKids as a pediatric respiratory therapist. The skills I learned as a counsellor at Woodeden, such as caring for children with tracheostomies or those requiring mechanical ventilation, had now become integral to my professional role in my 20s. I remained at SickKids for a decade before relocating to Peterborough with my family.
“The best man at my wedding was someone I met at Woodeden, and to this day, I maintain contact with the first camper I ever worked with as a counsellor.”
The best man at my wedding was someone I met at Woodeden, and to this day, I maintain contact with the first camper I ever worked with as a counsellor. These bonds exemplify the lifelong relationships that form at Easter Seals camps. While there are limited specialized camps in the province, the demand for these types of experiences is as significant as they are profound.
After a hiatus, my involvement with Easter Seals resumed when I joined a hockey team for the Easter Seals Lindros Celebrity Hockey Classic, organized by a friend. This led to a conversation with Kevin Collins, the President and CEO of Easter Seals Ontario. Sharing my story with him, I expressed a keen interest in getting involved again with Easter Seals. In response, he graciously invited me to join the Board of Directors as a volunteer.
For me, this feels like coming full circle. I am honoured to volunteer alongside a group of committed and dedicated professionals, contributing to Easter Seals’ ongoing success and its mission to be the best it can be.