Reflecting on 36 Years

I arrived in Canada on May 1st. 1975 from Wales and England.

I was hired at Lutherwood Village for Youth in September 1975 by the late Rev. Pastor Meihbom, the Executive Director at the time.

Friends and colleagues helped me with the settlement process, learning new expressions, the way of life, and the joys of certain foods, like Jell-O with vegetables in it!

During my 36 years as a Child and Youth Worker at Lutherwood I had many positions.

The first, as a Community Worker, included helping families with the referral intake process. I would meet with the family and youth in their own home which allowed them to be relaxed in their own environment, to share their information and struggles, and for me to share with them “what Lutherwood is all about.” This was followed by a tour of the facility and a formal meeting/assessment by the Psychologist (Dr. Judy VanEvra) and WRDSB principal designate (the late John Spinak).

I felt in this role not only my British education and training was important, but also my compassion and respect for the youth and family.

A couple of years later, my work evolved to being at the Cottage very early in the mornings to prepare breakfast. A fully cooked British breakfast was served. This led to certain staff from the Day Treatment Program coming in early to eat and mingle with the youth and night staff like Art Thomas and “Hooksie”
(the late Agnes Hooks) who were just ending their shifts.

After that, I began working with certain youth to prepare and support them to have a successful day at school. This position was followed by four years in the classroom as a Child and Youth Worker, which included summer programming and camping trips planned by Enzo Tignanelli, the Phys. Ed Coordinator at the time. This provided the youth with an opportunity of outdoor activity and learning new skills which they had not experienced elsewhere.

My positions continued to evolve where I later became a member of Lutherwood’s Clinical Team. This was a great career opportunity for me in many ways, as the team offered a range of counselling services for individuals and their families. I was delighted to be given the opportunity and responsibility for the Home-Based Component.

This innovative approach resulted in the development of a Home Care Program for a more preventative approach. Its objective was to guide and link families to supports in their own community. It was so satisfying to see the progress of many connecting through their own community participation.

Lutherwood, like many agencies in the region and province, continued to go through organizational changes as required by community funders and government. Yet this created another big change in my career where I became the “Intake and Community Coordinator” attached to the Lutherwood Assessment Clinical Resource Centre at 39 Water St. N. in Downtown Kitchener. The other component to this was the Y.O.A clinic (now YCJA) court-ordered assessment by our Psychologists and Psychiatrist at the Centre.

For me, this position held the first voice for someone in crisis, and I could make a referral, or just be an ear for someone who needed to talk and be heard no matter what the circumstances.

It also led me to becoming a group facilitator at Highland Stirling, Greenway Chaplin, Chandler Mowat (House of Friendship agency) and with the WRDSB.

Several years later a significant organizational change required by the provincial government was the amalgamation of Children’s Mental Health Services across the province. In our community it was Lutherwood and kidsLINK, then known as Notre Dame of St. Agatha Children’s Village. The stated objective was to make access to Children’s Mental Health easier for families with infants up to youth aged 18 years old.

For me as a longtime professional employed by Lutherwood, this organizational change was extremely challenging both personally and professionally. However, in spite of all these changes, my commitment to Lutherwood, children, youth, families never diminished for the remainder of my time.

I made a significant contribution to the field of Children’s Mental Health and maintained a professional, reciprocal relationship with co-workers, colleagues and community partners.

I owe Lutherwood a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity of serving the organization for 36 years. I think between my work and the organization as a whole, it shaped my community identity.

On my retirement day in September 2007 a wonderful afternoon tea party was organized by staff which reflected my Welsh Heritage. To top it all off, my youngest brother Elfyn (Elvin) was there to greet me.

I continue to support Lutherwood and I for sure cherish the lifelong friendships I have made.

Best of Wishes Lutherwood on this 50 Anniversary, or in Welsh, “Pob Hwyl Lutherwood ar Penblwydd 50!”

Thank you/ “Diolch”!

Anne G. Jones