Reflecting on a Successful 42nd Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, June 24th, Westcoast Family Centres proudly hosted its 42nd Annual General Meeting at the Italian Cultural Centre, bringing together staff, Board members, community partners and supporters to celebrate another year of meaningful impact.

The afternoon began with lunch and networking as guests arrived and connected with colleagues from across the organization. Our Director of Human Resources, Simon Weeks, served as emcee, keeping the event engaging and energetic throughout the day.

We were honoured to begin with a Land Acknowledgement delivered by Aaron Rivard, our Indigenous Education Consultant and Indigenous Family Counsellor, recognizing the importance of community, connection and respect.

The event kicked off with a fun and interactive staff icebreaker that encouraged attendees to meet new colleagues while learning more about one another. Congratulations to Kimberly Wong, Zinat Sajadi, Jonathon Nolie and Rose Henderson, who were randomly selected to win Bluetooth speaker prizes based on their participation in the icebreaker game!

Our CEO, Ann Kutcher, then delivered an inspiring keynote address, reflecting on the profound impact Westcoast Family Centres continues to have on children, youth and families throughout our communities. Through powerful participant testimonials, she highlighted the difference compassionate support can make in people’s lives.

Participants shared comments such as:

“I didn’t realize how much I needed support until someone took the time to understand what we were going through.”

“We’re in a much better place than we were before. The support helped us build a stronger life for our family.”

“Staff was amazing… they helped me feel comfortable and supported, especially with my anxiety. It meant so much during a difficult time.”

Ann also introduced our renewed Strategic Plan that will further showcase our vision and priorities for the future.

The organization was pleased to welcome Adrienne Montani, Executive Director of First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society, as the AGM’s keynote speaker. Drawing upon more than 25 years of advocacy and leadership in support of children, youth and families, Adrienne shared valuable insights and perspectives that resonated strongly with attendees.

The formal AGM proceedings were led by Board President Shannon Svingen-Jones, who guided members through the business portion of the meeting and reflected on another successful year for the organization.

A highlight of every AGM is the opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of our staff. This year’s Peer Recognition Awards celebrated individuals who exemplify leadership, compassion, innovation and dedication:

• Natural Leader Award: Kimberly Wong
• Legacy Award: Monique Harvey
• Biggest Heart Award: Shahla Noorani
• Social Impact Award: Shannon Radonjic
• North Star Award: Helen Rex

We also had the privilege of recognizing employees celebrating significant service milestones, from five years of service to an incredible thirty years of dedication:

Five Years

• Khristelle Hizon
• Shannon Radonjic
• Teg Sangha
• Courtney Sung
• Jenna Grimston
• Novem Fung

Ten Years

• Stephanie Briggs
• Angel Grewal
• Cheryl Overhill
• Kirin Sandhu

Twenty Years

• Shahla Noorani
• Luz Quintero
• Zinat Sajadi
• Crystal Janes
• Vesna Krcmar

Thirty Years

• Jan Waldbillig
• Aleta Bombase

The event concluded with closing remarks from Ann Kutcher and a closing prayer from Aaron Rivard.

As we reflect on our 42nd AGM, we are filled with gratitude for our staff, volunteers, Board members, funders, community partners and the families we serve. The stories shared throughout the afternoon remind us why our work matters and inspire us to continue building stronger, healthier communities together.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s AGM such a memorable success. We look forward to another year of growth, impact and connection.