About Us

Our first full year back in the building since the completion of the renovation project seems to have flown by. Family Ties has been a hive of activity, with a wide range of programs and projects, as well as all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

There have been a few challenges; most notably, navigating the many steps required to obtain an M30 agreement in order to receive federal government funding. While this delayed the start of our new Canadian Heritage project, Do You See What We’re Saying?, we’re very happy now that the workshops are in full swing and gaining momentum. The finished results will be showcased in a Family Ties 2026 calendar.

 Thanks to funding from the MRC of Bonaventure we were able to enhance the outdoor spaces around Family Ties, including the playschool gallery to allow the children to play outside even when the playground is inaccessible. Work was also carried out on the community garden and surrounding grounds to improve accessibility and safety.

Throughout the year, Family Ties has been nurturing and strengthening partnerships, building relationships that are supportive and collaborative. These partnerships are important as they enable us to advocate for the local English-speaking population and to share expertise and learn from each other. Examples of these partnerships include the Mental Health Advisory Council; the Anglophone Collaboration Network and the Regional Committee on Access to Health and Social Services in English.

Family Ties continues to put a strong focus on diversifying our funding strategies, knowing that meeting the different needs of the community requires creativity and adaptability. The Family Ties Three-Year Action Plan, which was written with the help of our members, enables us to prioritize these needs and work towards resiliency of the organization and the community. Family Ties activities and programs are often at full capacity. Fathers now have increased involvement across all programming and Family Ties values their contribution and engagement. The newly renovated Family Ties kitchen is used by our many collective cooking groups, but we have also been happy to welcome other community organizations such as the Anchor, New Carlisle High School and CASA.

The Family Ties administrative council and staff took time this year to connect during two shared activities, helping us to grow stronger as a team and giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy time together outside of work. Family Ties also offered four community events this year- a corn boil, Christmas open house, Family Day at the Chalet and Family Literacy Day- which brought our members together in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thanks to you, the Family Ties members, and to the dedicated staff and amazing volunteers. Your passion, commitment, and support make all of this possible. We look forward to another year of growth, connection and shared success.

Heather MacWhirter, Executive Director