Our History 1983-2023
The evolution of Beaver Valley Outreach can best be described as “organic”. Through the years, we have been guided by visionaries who looked ahead and created a path for the organization. They have identified gaps in social services, initiated programs to meet community needs, and secured funding through grants and innovative fundraising.
In 1983, two significant things happened to create BVO. A small group of women from the community and local churches met to coordinate efforts to provide Christmas Hampers to families in need in the Beaver Valley. About the same time, the Children’s Aid Society presented a film series titled “Focus on the Family in Thornbury”. This helped to recruit more people to the new organization.
Soon food, toys and clothing flooded in. So much clothing was left over that the group decided to make the items available to the public health nurse and teachers at the local school. The “Clothing Depot” began operating out of the basement of Clarksburg residents Ian and Muriel Shaw. Word spread and more donations accumulated.
BVO founders soon realized that training was essential in order to address the real needs of the people of the community. Hazel Rogers South arranged a leadership training course called “Opportunity for Advancement”, which broadened the scope of BVO significantly. Support groups for women were started. Some women were single moms. Most had small children and needed various kinds of support. Special needs transportation and provision of emergency food were identified as vital requirements.
BVO founders soon realized that training was essential in order to address the real needs of the people of the community. Hazel Rogers South arranged a leadership training course called “Opportunity for Advancement”, which broadened the scope of BVO significantly. Support groups for women were started. Some women were single moms. Most had small children and needed various kinds of support. Special needs transportation and provision of emergency food were identified as vital requirements.
BVO continued to serve the community with the help of volunteers and a small amount of Christmas cash donations from churches, service clubs and businesses. Expanded services included year-round assistance to those in need and programs for children and seniors. Inevitably, more funding was required, and several small projects including the first BVO cookbook were developed to meet financial needs.
BVO became known in the wider area, resulting in talks with the Ministry of Community and Social Services in late 1987 to apply for a Community and Neighbourhood Support Services Program grant. By 1988, BVO incorporated, by-laws were written, charitable status was obtained and an eight- member Board was formed, with wide community representation. Government funding soon arrived and the organization hired its first paid program coordinator. A year later, the Clothing Depot, the Crayon Box Nursery School, and the Coordinator’s office moved into their first official headquarters in the Village of Clarksburg.
At incorporation on February 29, 1988, BVO’s Board included:
- President – Diana McGregor
- Vice-President – Norine Baron
- Secretary – Hazel South
- Treasurer – Rochelle Demerse
- Directors – Michelle Fleming, Bill Houghton, Doris Kaye, Marjorie Stewart, Barb Swanson, Ingrid Vander Schans and Spiro Vozoris
By 2000, BVO was operating eighteen programs and services, and it was clear that the organization needed more space. And so, in 2001, under the leadership of Coordinator Teresa Pearson and Board Chair Rita Mary Coté, BVO purchased the former fire hall on Bruce Street in Thornbury. (The building was later renovated to suit BVO’s needs.) In the following year, BVO was asked to become the Thornbury site for the Ontario Early Years Centre.
In 2017, BVO’s growth meant it once again needed a new home for the Treasure Shop, accessible offices, more storage space, and additional parking. The building, formerly known as Piper’s on King Street East in Thornbury, was purchased and renovated. It officially opened in 2018.
Over the years, the Treasure Shop continued to grow. Selling recycled children’s, women’s and men’s clothing as well as toys, books and housewares at reasonable rates, it continues to support vital programs and services in the community. More importantly, in keeping with BVO’s commitment to responsible environmental stewardship, the Treasure Shop has played a significant role in diverting thousands of tonnes of materials from the local landfill site. In addition, items not sold in the Treasure Shop are forwarded to Diabetes Canada’s textile recycling centre as well as to Habitat for Humanity. In recognition of its environmental efforts, the Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce awarded BVO the Sustainable Innovation Award in 2019. Our “Bottles for BVO” program, launched in 2020, collects wine, beer and liquor bottles for recycling redemption. Along with raising funds for our programs and services, the program plays a role in diverting bottles and cans from the local landfill site.
Today, BVO offers approximately eighteen programs and services for children, families, seniors, youth and individuals in The Blue Mountains. We employ twelve people from our community. Filling the gaps in community and social services has always been a primary mandate at BVO. In the early days, that meant focusing on essential programs such as before and after-school child care, a breakfast club for school children and emergency and referral services for young and old alike. In more recent years, led by Executive Director Carolyn Letourneau, BVO stepped up to take over two important children’s programs which were no longer able to operate on their own: a summer day camp and a preschool facility.
Volunteers are the heart of Beaver Valley Outreach. The growth of our volunteers, measured in knowledge and experience as well as numbers, has been phenomenal since our beginning forty years ago. Today, over one hundred and fifty volunteers, working with staff and a hands-on Board of Directors, generously offer their time and talents to deliver vital programs and services.
Today, BVO is a well-known and respected charitable organization, touching the lives of many in the community. It is a grassroots organization that lives by the spirit of its visionaries, the hard work and generosity of its volunteers and leaders, the confidence of its supporters and the kindness of its personnel. The year 2023 marks forty years of meeting the changing needs of our growing community. We hope to achieve great feats in the future as we continue “making good things happen in our community”!
