Message From Grandview Children’s Centre Chair and CEO

The 2019 Grandview Children’s Centre Year in Review showcases the successes and ongoing innovation being achieved as we realize the objectives of “Building on Excellence,” our Strategic Plan.

Grandview looks forward to sharing these stories and takes tremendous pride in the accomplishments, successes and milestones reached by children, youth and their families and our staff, every year through our annual report.

The report highlights the impact that Grandview has as we share our expertise across clinical and administrative practices to support and foster understanding, belonging, participation, treatment and care. Grandview kids benefit from everyone who is a part of #TeamGrandview.

The Grandview Board of Trustees once again led the organization through significant change. The opportunities of the past year were met with confidence, diligence and a commitment to demonstrate our mission, vison and values in all that we do.

Thank you to the Trustees for their dedication and giving of their time and skill. A special thank you to Brad Phillips, Chair, Board of Trustees and Monica Foley, Chair, Governance Excellence Committee who have completed their terms on the Board at Grandview. We are richer for their contributions and outstanding leadership over the past many years.

It was a year of tremendous change and the most significant growth in our history, as our expert team grew by 48% to support program delivery changes in the Ontario Autism Program and the School-Based Rehabilitation Program. We welcomed a diverse and talented range of staff to #TeamGrandview and look forward to how they will enrich our organization and impact the lives of thousands of children and familiesin the years ahead.

Typically, we comment in this introduction by looking back over the entire year, however in early March, the final month of our fiscal year, the COVID-19 Pandemic significantly changed all of our lives. COVID-19 may forever change some of the ways in which we work at Grandview. It feels right to focus on the final month of the fiscal year as a proxy for the entire year.

Fortunately, as you have come to expect, Grandview did not delay when COVID-19 hit and immediately took steps to begin to offer virtual care. Hundreds of staff were set up with technology to work and connect with families at home.

We also had dedicated staff members attend in-centre appointments from the outset of the Pandemic, for children and youth with urgent needs that could not be met with virtual care. This quick action by Grandview has allowed us to achieve thousands of “visits” despite many challenges.

We came together quickly as an organization to care for one another and for the children, youth and families we serve. We connected in new ways and pushed ourselves to learn and adapt quickly in order to support the needs in our community.

Grandview shone in the darkness and continues to do so as we prepare to fully utilize what we have learned. We are planning to adopt some of the required new practices ongoing as we prepare to emerge stronger and wiser from this time of profound impact across the world.

Thank you to the Grandview Children’s Foundation for continuing to introduce new friends to the magic of Grandview and for raising the urgently needed funds to create possibilities for all children and families. COVID-19 has disrupted many lives and the generosity of our community to support Grandview kids during such disruption has been inspiring. Thank you to each and every donor and supporter.

An old Proverb says “When the roots are deep there is no reason to fear the wind,” Grandview’s roots date back 67 years in Durham Region. Deep strong roots anchor us and allow us to courageously face change knowing we are strong because of each other and our incredible community support.

Thank you for caring so deeply about the children, youth and families we serve.

Thank you for your interest in and support of Grandview.