Year in Review
A message from the Board Chair & Chief Executive Officer

As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2025–26, we are filled with gratitude for the children, youth, families, staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and community members who make our work possible. Together, we continued to strengthen services, create new opportunities, and build on the Centre’s proud tradition of supporting children and families across Niagara.

This year marked an important leadership transition as we welcomed Noella Klawitter as Chief Executive Officer. While leadership changed, our commitment to children and families remained steadfast. We are grateful to former CEO Oksana Fisher for her 15 years of dedicated service and the strong foundation she helped build, and we are excited about the future under Noella’s leadership.

Throughout the year, Niagara Children’s Centre continued to enhance programs and services to meet the evolving needs of our community. Funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation allowed us to pilot an innovative Behaviour Support Program, while support from the David S. Howes Fund at the Niagara Community Foundation enabled us to expand recreational opportunities by adding a Recreation Therapy Assistant. We also introduced a new Family Portal, improving access to information and creating a more seamless experience for families navigating our services.

Supporting families remained central to everything we do. More than 100 caregivers participated in our annual Parent & Caregiver Conference, while the launch of Dad’s Corner created a new space for fathers and male-identifying caregivers to connect and support one another. Programs such as our DSBN Summer Camp, Upper Extremity Skills Group, and recreation initiatives provided opportunities for children and youth to build confidence, develop skills, and create meaningful connections.

We also celebrated the successful completion of our CARF Accreditation Survey. Over two days, surveyors reviewed more than 2,100 standards, recognizing the high quality of care and services provided across the organization. This achievement reflects the professionalism, expertise, and commitment our team demonstrates every day in supporting children and families.

Community engagement continued to thrive throughout the year. Families gathered for inclusive events such as Trunk or Treat and the inaugural VOLT Hockey Classic, while the introduction of our mascot, Sunny the River Otter, brought smiles, excitement, and a new symbol of belonging to our Centre. The Superhero Run reached a historic milestone, surpassing $1 million raised since its inception, demonstrating the extraordinary generosity and support of our community.

While we are proud of these accomplishments, what stands out most is the people behind them.

Every day, our staff bring compassion, creativity, and expertise to their work. They celebrate milestones with families, help children overcome challenges, and continually seek new ways to improve outcomes. Their dedication is the driving force behind every success highlighted in this report.

As we look ahead, we are energized by the opportunities before us. Strategic planning, future facility discussions, and growing partnerships across Niagara will help shape the next chapter of our Centre. Together, we remain focused on creating a future where every child has the opportunity to be their best.

We are proud of what we have accomplished together and excited for what lies ahead.

Noella Klawitter, CEO
Angela Davidson, Chair