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

So much has changed over the past six decades, but one thing has remained constant — our unwavering commitment to serving Niagara’s children and families. At the heart of all we do is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

As we mark our 60th anniversary, we reflect on the remarkable legacy of our founding Chair and Medical Director, Dr. William Orr. His vision for a Centre that would support children in Niagara, from Niagara, remains a guiding light. Dr. Orr’s passion, integrity, and deep belief in doing what’s best for children shaped our earliest days and continues to inspire our mission.

Since our beginnings in 1964 as the Niagara Peninsula Crippled Children’s Society, the Centre has evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. What began with a focus on physical disabilities has expanded into a Centre that now supports nearly 6,000 children and youth with a range of physical, developmental, and communicative delays. We’ve grown from a team of just six staff to a dedicated workforce of 148 professionals across ten clinical disciplines.

Our services now reach families where they are — not just at our Glenridge Avenue location, but also through three satellite sites and in homes, schools, childcare settings, and EarlyON centres.

Throughout the past year, a major focus was addressing long wait times. With leadership from our management team and the dedication of our staff, we introduced new service models aimed at reducing waits and improving access. We are deeply grateful to our team for their commitment to enhancing the experience of children and families.

This year also brought a key milestone in the Centre’s development. The Board approved the transfer of the Infant and Child Development Program from Niagara Region Public Health to the Centre, effective April 1, 2025. This transition recognizes our capacity to provide a more connected and coordinated continuum of services, particularly in the early years of a child’s development.

In preparation for long-term growth, the Centre completed a Needs Assessment and Business Case with Colliers Project Leaders, which was presented to the Board. Following careful review, we committed to pursuing government support for a new facility that would house both Niagara Children’s Centre and the School Authority. This is a major step forward in ensuring our Centre is equipped to meet future needs across Niagara.

This past year also underscored the importance of our workforce. In a competitive staffing landscape, we emphasized recruitment and retention. In 2024, we welcomed 33 new staff, nearly one-quarter of our team. Today, 40% of our employees have been with the Centre for two years or less, and we ended the year with a record-low vacancy rate of just 3.5%.

Finally, in March, our CEO, Oksana Fisher, announced her intention to retire after 15 years of service. We thank Oksana for her leadership, vision, and passion for improving the lives of children and families.

As we celebrate this milestone year, we do so with deep gratitude for the families who trust us, the staff who lead with heart, the donors and volunteers who give generously, and the community that continues to believe in our mission. Together, we’ve honoured our past, embraced the present, and are boldly stepping into the future.

Oksana Fisher, CEO
Lois Ouellette, Chair