TABLE OF CONTENT
ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORTS
1996 Annual Report
CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS
In today’s economic climate, The Counselling Foundation of Canada has been faced with an increasing number and variety of requests for funding. The last year has been especially challenging for those agencies and organizations mandated to provide social supports in our communities, most of whom have been faced with funding reductions from government which were far more severe than previously experienced. As the search for a new balance between social and economic strategies occurs, as we as Canadians struggle together to redefine our social contract, and, as we challenge each other to become active participants in caring communities, the Foundation is committed to continue its efforts to provide effective counselling and support services which will help people develop and be able to achieve constructive employment. We have not seen our mandate to be a substitute for government funding or to merely fund deficits.
During 1995, The Counselling Foundation of Canada provided grants of approximately $2.25 million dollars for over forty programmes related to counselling. The recipient agencies and organizations are unparalleled in their commitment to improving the lives of individual members of their respective communities by enabling them to become an integral part of the economic and social fabric of Canada.
Being interested in programmes and people as opposed to merely funding deficits, it was particularly gratifying at see the positive outcomes achieved by the exceptional commitment of the people and organizations the Foundation funds. Highlights in 1995 included Centre Youville, DiscoverAbility, Serve Canada and Skills for Change. We were also gratified by the record attendance at the NATCON conference which confirmed its importance to the guidance community in Canada.
Like many agencies, organizations and communities, the Board and Members of the Foundation have reexamined our goals and objectives to determine future directions for Foundation activities and funding. While our traditional focus was employment related counselling, we gradually expanded the definition to factors that affect future employability. This brought into the spectrum a range of issues for all ages from adults to programmes for children at risk. Our younger members have encouraged us to focus some of our resources on parenting and early childhood development.
These issues and outcomes are very important as they help set the stage for future employability.
As a result of our review we have revised our statement of purpose as follows:
To engage in charitable and educational activities for the benefit of people through the creation and enrichment of programmes, using goal oriented counselling to aid in the healthy development of individuals of all ages, thus enabling them to improve their lifestyles in order to make more effective contributions to their communities and the economy of Canada.
The year end also marked the retirement of Elizabeth McTavish who served as our Counselling Director since 1980. Much of what we have accomplished is due to Elizabeth and her capacity to identify individuals and programmes which could make a difference in the lives of people of all ages. Elizabeth’s greatest love was counselling and she always included direct counselling of individuals as part of her mandate. In this role she has helped countless young people. Her tenure occurred during the period of greatest advance in the field of counselling and she deserves full recognition for her contribution to this growth.
We welcome Jean Faulds as our new Executive Director.
Jean most recently served as Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres, an organization we helped to create. Her strong organizational and networking skills will provide leadership as we attempt to meet our mandate in the coming years.
On behalf of the Board
Donald G. Lawson
Chairman
