A Message From Our Board Chair

What a year it has been! Unification, in many ways, offered us a fresh start, a chance to look at everything through fresh eyes and to invite our employees and community to do the same. In a way, I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, opening her door and experiencing everything in technicolor. So much opportunity!

Camino means path, but unlike in Oz, program participants and community members don’t have to follow a yellow brick road! It’s important that people can find us through any door. Enter anywhere, through Camino’s many programs and services, and we will help you find what you need on your path to wellbeing. Our community is strong and growing fast. Our employees and partners have been working diligently to rethink and simplify services from a client perspective, with an equity lens and always embedding our values. We want to learn, grow, and try new things, while putting people at the centre of our work.

I want to thank our partners, Camino’s CEO Tracy, my Board colleagues, and all Camino employees who make Waterloo Region a better place every day. I’m excited about our partnerships across the region reimagining program delivery in a new and integrated way, and our service agreements with grassroots organizations, ensuring culturally sensitive wellbeing and mental health services are accessible and available to all – ensuring that there is no wrong door.

Camino’s work is possible because of the many people who work, partner, volunteer, invest in our work, or come through our doors looking to improve their wellbeing. Special thanks to our committed donors and a special thank you to the Hallman Foundation, for their continuing generous and forward-thinking support.

As I step out of the Chair role at Camino, I’m so grateful to remain a part of this wonderful organization. So many great things to be accomplished are still ahead. We’ll continue building an even stronger and more equitable community where there is no wrong door for those seeking their own fresh start.

I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Lori Payne Chair, Board of Directors

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