June 26, 2023
Dear St.Amant Families,
We officially welcomed the new season with a beautiful summer solstice ceremony and Sacred Fire, and a BBQ to celebrate and thank our staff and volunteers.
Our community is abuzz with energy as people are getting out to enjoy the warm temperatures, activities, and events happening in our community. Just this week, I heard about plans to attend the Sea Bears game, horseback riding, the outdoor pool opening, and visits to Albert Beach. We look forward to these long days all year and I am happy to see our community taking full advantage of all the season has to offer. It is a perfect time to make and deepen meaningful connections with the people around us.
We are welcoming three new Directors to the St.Amant Board, while also thanking our outgoing Board members for their time and service over their tenure. This is an exciting time for the Board and the organization as we prepare to launch our strategic planning process. We will be working hard over the summer to prepare for important discussions in the fall about our strategic direction. We look forward to understanding from our stakeholders how St.Amant can continue to innovate and evolve to serve the most pressing and relevant needs in our community.
Réseau Compassion Network (RCN) awarded us two grants recently. One to pilot a new, specialized feeding program for children who are picky eaters, and the other to support almost fifty of our community homes to take part in a kitchen composting program. Additionally, RCN offered support from Rhonda Forgues, of Spirited Ways Consulting, to help with implementing our Truth & Reconciliation action plan. Our first session went very well and we are looking forward to Rhonda’s support as we walk through this journey.
I hope this newsletter gives you a sense of the work that’s happening and of events on the horizon. The Disability Matter Vote launch will be an especially significant and important event in a few weeks. This will be the last newsletter until the fall, but as always, please reach out if you have any questions or comments. I wish you all a wonderful summer with lots of connection and a return to activities and experiences that bring you joy!
Ben Adaman
President & CEO