Grandview Kids

Every Child And Youth Living Life At Their Full Potential

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Meet members of Grandview Kids’ incredible team of volunteers!

#TeamGrandview Article

Meet our volunteers!

Grandview Kids is fortunate to have a team of more than 150 incredibly talented and caring volunteers across all of our sites. To continue our National Volunteer Week celebration, we interviewed 5 of our volunteers to get insight into their work with Grandview. In this series of interviews, you will meet Norma-Jean, Taaha, Kirsty, Natalie and Elliot, who will express what volunteering means to them.

Meet Norma-Jean!

Photo of Norma-Jean hugging a pony in a purple tutu.

What is it about volunteering at Grandview Kids that appeals to you personally?

I’ve been fortunate with my family and see that GV provides many much-needed services in the community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a worthy cause.

How has volunteer work had an impact on your life?

[It] keeps me busy and fulfills a personal duty in me to give back. 

What has your favourite event or volunteer assignment been with Grandview Kids and why?

I’m on the committee for the GV Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournament.    I interact with a variety of GV Staff / Ambassador Families other volunteers, donors/sponsors and tournament participants. It’s such a huge event and seeing the results of everyone’s hard work every year really is very satisfying to be a part of it all.

Meet Taaha!

Photograph of Taaha Ijaz in front of a snowy background.

What is it about volunteering at Grandview Kids that appeals to you personally?

To me, the most appealing aspect of Grandview Kids is how dedicated everyone is in providing compassionate family-centred care. Volunteering at Grandview Kids allows me to be a part of providing such care to an exceptional group of clients in our community. In addition, volunteering at Grandview Kids has allowed me to work with a fantastic group of clinicians who are always willing to answer questions I may have regarding their specialty.

How has volunteer work had an impact on your life?

Volunteering at Grandview Kids has made a huge impact on my life. I have been able to learn so many different skills while volunteering. My communication skills with children and their parents have improved significantly – you can read all you want about communication skills, but until you apply them you’ll never develop those skills. I have learned so much about prioritizing especially when there is a rush of clients and their families coming in through the door. Lastly, volunteering at Grandview Kids has also helped me understand the importance of establishing and advocating for more pediatric care centres. Facilities such as Grandview Kids are necessary if we want to help children reach their potential.

What has your favourite event or volunteer assignment been with Grandview Kids and why?

I truly enjoyed volunteering at the Covid-19 vaccine clinic organized by Grandview Kids. Helping children overcome their fear of needles was extremely rewarding.

What do you like to do when you are not volunteering?

I recently learned how to swim, so anytime I’m not volunteering or busy with school you can find me at the pool.

Meet Kirsty!

Head shot of Kirsty Dykes.

What is it about volunteering at Grandview Kids that appeals to you personally?

I like to help the kids and be able to get out of the house to do something worthwhile. 

How has volunteer work had an impact on your life?

It makes me happy to see that I can help children and it shows me how much the children can improve and be part of the community.

What has your favourite event or volunteer assignment been with Grandview Kids and why?

(Prior to COVID) I loved to do the Free to Read program and I was able to walk around the atrium and interact with the kids as well as giving parents books to read to their kids.

Also, I loved doing the McHappy Day. I liked to see the faces of kids when I gave them balloons and it was great to see people give money to support Grandview. 

What do you like to do when you are not volunteering?

When I am not volunteering I like to go to the movies, hang out with my friend Terri and watch wrestling. I enjoy going to the Abilities Centre. I also loved working at The Bistro 67 in Whitby before COVID. I will hopefully get back to work.

Meet Natalie!

Head shot of Natalie Bedrossian.

What is it about volunteering at Grandview Kids that appeals to you personally?

The most appealing aspect about volunteering at Grandview kids is the wide sense of availability that is presented to volunteers. While volunteers are meant to provide aid in certain positions, one rarely remains in the same setting. We are exposed to various programs within the centre and are always learning more about all of the services that Grandview offers to their clients and families as well as more about the services themselves, ranging from rehabilitation programs to family services. It is not only a beneficial setting for both the individual and the centre, but in turn, the volunteer learns more about the community and the various aspects that go into running such a smooth and lively setting.

How has volunteer work had an impact on your life?

Volunteering has had a major impact on my life in many ways. Although I can positively say that volunteering has allowed me to grow in ways that I believe no other setting would have, I also attribute my weekly contribution as a way of allowing myself to become more certain of the path I would like to take on as my future profession. I started volunteering for Grandview when I was in my second year of university and like many, was somewhat uncertain of what I wanted for my future. It was through volunteering that I was able to learn about various rehabilitation therapists and therapy assistants and the impact such services have on children and youth.

What has your favourite event or volunteer assignment been with Grandview Kids and why?

While it is hard to distinguish a specific volunteer assignment, it would seem that my favourite volunteer assignment at Grandview has been the ability to volunteer within the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Speech-Language Therapy Assistant (SLTA) therapy groups. Alongside being able to learn more about the various aspects that are involved in each session, it was very interesting to learn about the different ways in which clinicians incorporate to continue to target their clients’ needs while also being able to keep them engaged without trying to make it seem like therapy.

It was enjoyable to be able to see and hear of the progress that some of the clients were making throughout their time at Grandview and to learn about the various skills and actions that are provided for Grandview clients and their families from before they are provided direct support to well after. It was a truly exceptional experience that has cultivated my favourite volunteer assignment so far.

What drives you to keep coming back to Grandview?

What continuously keeps me coming back to Grandview is the sense of community and belonging that is harvested amongst both clinicians and staff members as well as between clinicians and clients/families. Whether it is during a therapy session or workshop, clinicians and several other members of the Grandview team always strive to provide the most exceptional quality of care and service to their clients and to each other, something that I have rarely seen in the various places I have volunteered. Everyone is made to be treated equally and when one is in need of help, whether it is to discuss the best pursuit of action for a specific issue or to just clarify a need from a family, everyone is available to help in any way they can. It truly allows you to feel like you are connected to a greater family, rather than being a fellow volunteer.

What do you like to do when you are not volunteering?

Apart from volunteering, I am an avid bookworm where I try to finish at least 2-3 books a month and I am an experimental baker, always looking for new recipes to try and master.

Meet Elliot!

A photo of Elliot Smith working at a McDonald's Drive Thru on McHappy Day.

What is it about volunteering at Grandview Kids that appeals to you personally?

What appeals to me about volunteering with Grandview Kids is personally, it allows me to give back to the place that helped me when I was younger. The therapists at Grandview helped me learn how to talk and even how to print my own name. I feel included and like part of a team at Grandview. I am now a college graduate and Grandview helped me get there.

How has volunteer work had an impact on your life?

Volunteer work has had an impact on me on a positive note because volunteering has made me become a true leader and a good citizen. I feel good when I can give my opinion and thoughts as part of the Youth Advisory Committee in order to help Grandview become a better place for kids. Volunteering has made me work hard so I can be a positive role model for any Grandview kid out there who thinks they won’t get there. I am now working as a Physical Fitness and Literacy Associate at the Abilities Centre and volunteering at Grandview and other places (Kerry’s Place, Vikings Rugby League and Pickering All Abilities Soccer) has helped me create a good resume.

What has your favourite event or volunteer assignment been with Grandview Kids and why?

My favourite event/volunteer assignment with Grandview Kids has always been McHappy Day. It is my favourite event because I got to work in the Drive Through and give orders to customers. I had a lot of friends and teachers stop by to get their orders from me. We raised a lot of money! I liked helping out with these fundraisers because they were all about showing teamwork and helping others in the community to make Grandview Children’s Centre a more accessible environment.

Why do you think it is important to volunteer (for Grandview Kids and elsewhere)?

It is important to help volunteer at Grandview and other places because it just feels good to give back and help others. To see smiles on people’s faces when you make them happy makes it all worth it. I think it helps to show that we are just like everyone else and we have a lot to offer too.

What do you like to do when you are not volunteering?

I like to read books and play sports like baseball, soccer, rugby, and archery. I also like to play in a band with my bandmates at Online Math and Guitar. Finally, I also like to be involved with social groups at the Abilities Centre.

This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is Volunteering is Empathy in Action. Click here to learn more about National Volunteer Week.

A graphic of a heart with the Grandview Kids logo in the centre. The phrase reads, "Volunteering is a work of hear. Thanks for all you do!"

Grandview Kids is the lead agency for the Ontario Autism Program – Durham (OAP-D), a local partnership providing programs and services to children and youth with Autism.

In 2021, the OAP-D was selected by the Province of Ontario to offer Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Program as part of the Ontario Autism Program. Grandview Kids offers one of three programs in the Durham Region, known as the Social ABCs.

After several months of intensive fidelity training, four members of Team Grandview have successfully become Social ABCs coaches through Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Karen J. is a Social ABCs Parent Coach and Site Lead who has been part of the Grandview team since 2003. Her experience includes supporting Preschool Speech and Language Services, Autism Services, and the ASD Diagnostic Hub. Since joining the Social ABCs team in 2021, Karen has focused on empowering parents to build positive, playful interactions with their children. She loves helping families explore how everyday moments, often using simple household items or even kitchen ingredients, can become powerful opportunities for connection, communication, and natural learning.

Vareesha K. is a Social ABCs Coach and Site Lead and has ten years of experience supporting neurodiverse populations with communication challenges. She joined Grandview Kids in 2019 and has worked in the Preschool Speech and Language Program and OAP Program. She also pertains certification in Solution Focused Coaching and training in the Early Start Denver Model approach. As a Social ABCs site lead and coach, her work focuses on empowering parents to support their child’s social communication skills and self-regulation needs. In this program, strategies are practiced through play-based routines and naturally occurring moments throughout the day that are intrinsically motivating for the child. What sets this program apart is the level of intensive coaching provided to families.  It is direct, supportive, in the moment and adapted to the caregiver and child’s needs. We get back to the basics to set the foundation of play, interaction, and fun! This program highlights the power of shared positive emotions between caregivers and their children to foster meaningful connections and engagement.  

Here are some parent testimonials from the program:

“Thank you for giving me the confidence to be able to interact with my child and connect with them on a level I never thought was possible.” 
“This program not only benefits my son, it also benefits my whole family.” 
“The knowledge you’ve shared with us has been invaluable, and I will always appreciate it. I’ll definitely recommend this program to anyone in a situation like mine.” 

Celcela N. is a Communicative Disorders Assistant and Social ABCs Coach in training and has been a part of the Social ABC’s team since February 2025. Prior to joining Social ABCs, Celcela supported the Preschool Speech and Language Program at Grandview, providing parent coaching for a diverse range of communicative needs.

Celcela strongly values Social ABCs’ emphasis on intentional communication through connection building and shared joy. By fostering social communication within positive, motivating and emotionally engaging experiences, Celcela supports gentle and naturalistic learning opportunities that feel authentic and enjoyable for both the child and caregiver. It’s incredibly rewarding for her to observe children throughout the program as they discover how much richer and more meaningful play and daily routines can be when shared with another person, especially as they begin to initiate interactions, take turns, direct their attention, and send messages to others.

Through her work at Social ABCs, Celcela has come to value positive emotion sharing as the foundation for communication. Witnessing caregivers and children reciprocate smiles and laughter demonstrates that social communication truly begins with connecting with another person.

Ashna D. has been a Communicative Disorders Assistant since 2023 and joined Social ABCs in October 2025. Prior to becoming a Communicative Disorders Assistant, Ashna spent several years working with individuals with diverse neurological and developmental needs, building a strong foundation in supporting a wide range of communication and learning profiles. Her favorite part of Social ABCs is watching parents and children discover new ways to play together. Research shows how important play is for both connection and learning. Yet adults often spend much of their time being serious. Being able to help parents find new activities and opportunities to be silly during play and seeing how that translates into deeper learning for children is truly amazing. Ashna finds it incredibly rewarding to support families in embracing play as a meaningful, joyful part of everyday learning.

Grandview Kids is proud to offer the Social ABCs as a caregiver-mediated early years program. If your family has received a letter of invitation from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, visit https://grandviewkids.ca/caregiver-mediated-programs/ to learn how you can enroll in the Social ABCs.

Nutrition Month 2022

This March, dietitians across Canada are coming together to share how they can support you and make your future a healthier one. We interviewed Grandview Kids’ Registered Dietitians, Heather-Ann and Shelley, about their roles at Grandview and what being a dietitian means to them! 

Meet Heather-Ann!

What is your role at Grandview Kids?

I am a Registered Dietitian working with the Complex Care team and Nutrition Clinic.

What does a typical session with your clients look like?

A typical session with clients would include a discussion with the parents and/or child to determine how I can best support them in achieving their nutrition goals and needs. This discussion may include but is not limited to a review of past medical history, current dietary intake, medications/supplements, bloodwork, feeding environment, social history and measuring anthropometric data. Once I have completed my assessment, I would then provide evidence-based nutrition recommendations in a collaborative manner with the patient and/or family to enhance nutrition status and health outcomes.  

What inspired you to become a dietitian?

My first interest in nutrition started as a young athlete looking for ways to optimize sport performance. This led to studying Human Nutrition at St. Francis Xavier University, where I became intrigued by the opportunity for Dietitians to improve the health and well-being of others across the lifespan. I was inspired to become a Dietitian so that I could help others achieve healthier and happier lifestyles through the power of nutrition!

If you could give one nutrition tip to parents/caregivers of children and youth, what would it be?

I would recommend getting children and youth involved in the preparation of meals! Involving children in making family meals and snacks provides the opportunity for teaching valuable life skills, learning about their family’s culture and cooking traditions, as well as exposing the child to new foods.

Meet Shelley!

What is your role at Grandview Kids?

I work at Grandview Kids as a registered dietitian in the Nutrition Clinic. My role is to identify nutrition risks and assess the nutrition requirements of children and youth.  My goal is to work with families and their children to ensure optimal feeding and nutrition for their child’s growth and development.

What does a typical session with your clients look like?

A typical session involves review and assessment from the referring individual, further identifying nutrition issues to help families with their child’s feeding or health concerns. My role of late has changed to include a telepractice consult model.  This practice has had many benefits for the families I serve.  I provide a consultative service to parents/caregivers. Initial nutrition assessment times can be lengthy and telepractice has helped in this regard as the child will be in the comfort of their home and not sitting for an extended duration during the appointment.  The Nutrition Clinic Clerk notifies families in advance of their appointment to prepare a 3-day food record of typical nutrition days. This information is reviewed during the assessment and recommendations are then provided to optimize meal planning, feeding, nutrition status and growth.

What inspired you to become a dietitian?

My love for working with the pediatric population was always an inspiration of mine and so tagging this with nutrition was a great fit.  Who knew I would go on to be a dietitian when I was that child, as I only ate honey sandwiches and my vegetable of choice was corn! From as early as I can remember, my parents continued to provide variety and opportunity in my meals, ensuring a balanced structure as well as an enjoyable meal experience.  In time, my food variety expanded and my interest in nutrition and dietetics flourished in my later years.

If you could give one nutrition tip to parents/caregivers of children and youth, what would it be?

My managing mealtime tip: make mealtime enjoyable and a priority. Be a role model, eat together and get kids involved in the kitchen early on with a focus on food variety from Canada’s Food Guide.

Thank you for sharing a bit about your journey with us all to commemorate Nutrition Month 2022, Heather-Ann!

Visit the Nutrition Month website to learn more about how you can participate!

Written by Grandview Kids’ Director, Quality, Risk, Continuous Improvement, Alfred Ng

March 26 is Purple Day, a day created to increase understanding about epilepsy and eliminate its stigma.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures. A seizure happens when abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes an unwanted change in a person’s being or behaviour.

Affecting people of all ages and races – over 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. With an estimated one in every 100 Canadians diagnosed, you likely know someone living with epilepsy.

My son, Cameron, has a very rare form of epilepsy called continuous spike wave syndrome. Cameron is a sweet, caring 11 year who loves music, video games and playing with his little sister Evelyn.

Evelyn (left) and Cameron (right).

To know Cameron is to love him. But to see him, you would not immediately understand his daily challenges. Epilepsy is an invisible condition for many – it leaves little apparent visible differences but can affect a range of functions. Cameron has visited Grandview a few times, meeting staff and experiencing some of our special care and ‘sparkle.’ He was happy to tell #TeamGrandview more about epilepsy in recognition of Purple Day.

Dad: Cameron, what do you want people to know about epilepsy?

Cameron: I go to Sick Kids and take medications but other than that, people with epilepsy are just like everyone else – we just want to have friends and have fun. We do our best.

The key for interacting with individuals with epilepsy is, in many ways, the same for anyone. Do so with love, patience and empathy. Be a friend, have some fun, and do your best, as Cameron says.

Countless in-person events, like clinical appointments, moved to virtual ones throughout the pandemic. Many people (especially children and youth) take time to get used to the switch to virtual, and warming up to the idea of a virtual appointment can be a big ask. In this blog, Grandview Kids Speech-Language Therapy Assistant Karen has compiled some of her top points, breaking down the usefulness of virtual therapy sessions during the pandemic.

Kids sitting in a row in front of their own laptops.

What makes virtual appointments useful compared to in-person ones?

  • What happens between sessions (167 hours per week) is much more valuable than what happens in a session (1 hour)
  • Practicing an activity with a clinician talking you through it empowers you to feel confident when practicing between sessions
  • Virtual care allows clinicians to provide relevant, real-time suggestions tailored to specific family needs
  • You can partner with a clinician to find ways to embed goals into existing activities – eliminating the need to find extra “therapy time”
  • Eliminate transitions in and out of the car/centre/therapy room and putting on/taking off winter gear
  • Identify the MOST relevant target, that may have a domino effect in improving other skills
  • When clinicians coach families through using the strategies, parents get to experience the successes (i.e., new words, first steps) first-hand!
Illustration of a woman talking to a client over video chat on her laptop.

What could a virtual appointment look like other than child and clinician directly engaging in activities together?

  • A phone call to discuss goals and brainstorm ideas
  • A zoom call to look at space/materials and discussion around daily routines, and tailored suggestions to work existing goals into your day
  • Clinician could observe you and your child during a favourite activity, or daily routine, and provide tips of how to target goals in those activities
  • Clinician could observe and help troubleshoot a challenging routine (i.e., brushing teeth or meal time)
  • Clinician could actively coach you through using strategies during playtime or an existing daily routine

List curated by Grandview Kids’ Social Work Services Team

The following organizations offer programs and services to lend a helping hand around the holiday season. They may be able to offer assistance with food, clothing and/or toys. Please contact them directly for further information. Typically registration starts in early November. Registration is either over the phone or online. Families can choose one organization of their choice.

Ajax/Pickering Salvation Army

Tel: 905-427-7123   

Address: 122 Hunt Street, Ajax

Serves residents of Ajax, Pickering and Uxbridge.

To register, email: james.dark@salvationarmy.ca

Bowmanville Salvation Army

Tel: 905-623-2185   

Address: 75 Liberty Street South, Bowmanville

Serves Clarington residents. Call to book a registration appointment any Monday or Friday until December 3.

Oshawa Salvation Army

Tel: 905-723-7422

Address: 45 King Street East, Oshawa

https://saoshawa.ca/ – registration online for Oshawa and Port Perry residents.

Simcoe Hall Settlement House

Tel: 905-728-7525

Address: 387 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa

Serves Oshawa residents.

Toy Program registration is full, families will be placed on a waitlist. https://simcoehall.com/

Holiday food hampers will be available from the food bank as of Monday, November 30, 2021.

Southside Worship Center

Tel: 905-428-1985

Address: 55 Emperor Street, Ajax

Serves Ajax/Pickering residents.

Online registration https://southsideworship.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1055289

St. Andrew’s Community Outreach Program

Tel: 905-668-4022

Address: 209 Cochrane Street, Whitby

Serves anyone in Durham Region.

You can also find out more information on the Region of Durham’s Food Resource Directory website: https://www.durham.ca/en/living-here/food-banks.aspx  

Happy Holidays!

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