Community Resource Centre celebrates 40 years

WELLINGTON COUNTY – For four decades, the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington (CRC) has been working to create opportunities, strengthen resilience and help people access the supports they need to thrive.

It is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year – a milestone officials say reflects not only the organization’s history, but the thousands of people, partnerships, volunteers, staff, donors and community members who have shape its story.

“From its beginnings 40 years ago to the organization it is today, [CRC] has continued to evolve in response to the changing needs of North and Centre Wellington,” officials state in a press release. 

 Today, the organization provides services and supports including licensed childcare, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, community outreach and housing supports, food security, transportation and community engagement.

“Our 40th anniversary is an opportunity to look back with gratitude, but it is also an opportunity to look forward,” says CRC executive director Alyssandra Kent. 

“Our community has changed significantly over the last 40 years, and so have we. 

“What has remained constant is our commitment to being there for people when they need us and working with our community to find solutions to local needs.”

The organization is launching “40 Stories for 40 Years,” an initiative inviting past and present staff, clients, families, volunteers, partners, donors, and community members to share how CRC has made a difference in their lives or in the community.

“An organization is more than its programs and services – it is the people who experience them,” says Kent. 

“We want our 40th anniversary to reflect those voices. Whether it was a staff member who made a difference, a program that supported a family, a volunteer or employment experience, or a time when someone simply knew that [CRC] was there when they needed help, every story is part of our history.”

The community will see stories, memories and highlights from CRC’s 40-year history shared throughout the anniversary year, leading up to a special 40th anniversary celebration in the fall.

While the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect, CRC is also focused on what comes next, officials say.

This fall, the CRC will launch its new strategic plan, Our Path to Impact, establishing a direction for the years ahead and building on what CRC has learned through four decades of serving North and Centre Wellington.

“Our Path to Impact is about asking an important question: How can we create even greater impact for our community in the years ahead?” says Kent. 

“The needs of our community continue to evolve, and we need to evolve with them. Our next chapter will be shaped by partnership, advocacy, sustainability and meaningful solutions that help people build lifelong stability.”

The anniversary and strategic plan are two sides of the same story – celebrating where CRC has been while looking ahead to where the community needs it to go next, officials say.

“At a time when affordability, housing, access and connection are critical issues in our community, CRC has undeniable insight into what people are experiencing and, importantly, what it will take to move forward together,” states  CRC board of directors president Courtney O’Neill. 

“Our new strategic plan carries that insight forward, grounded in a deep understanding of our community, the realities of rural life and the evolving needs of the people who call North and Centre Wellington home.” 

CRC encourages community members to follow along throughout its 40th anniversary year as it shares stories, highlights its impact, celebrates the people who have contributed to its journey and looks toward the future.

To share a story or experience visit form.jotform.com/261993358852068. 

To learn more about CRC’s 40th anniversary celebrations, visit communityresourcecentre.org or follow the centre on social media.