The Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington (CRCNCW) reaches a major four-decade milestone this year, marking 40 years dedicated to empowering residents, bolstering community resilience, and connecting families to crucial local programs.
The organization has a rich history built on the contributions of countless residents, dedicated staff members, passionate volunteers, generous donors, and key community partners.
Over the past four decades, CRCNCW has continuously adapted its scope to meet the evolving demands of the surrounding area. Today, its wide array of programming encompasses licensed childcare, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, housing assistance, food security initiatives, local transportation services, and neighbourhood outreach programs.
“Our 40th anniversary is an opportunity to look back with gratitude, but it is also an opportunity to look forward,” said Alyssandra Kent, Executive Director of CRCNCW. “Our community has changed significantly over the last 40 years, and so have we. What has remained constant is our commitment to being there for people when they need us and working with our community to find solutions to local needs.”
To mark four decades of community impact throughout 2026, the resource centre is launching the “40 Stories for 40 Years” storytelling initiative, inviting current and past community members, clients, volunteers, and staff to share their personal experiences with the agency.
“An organization is more than its programs and services - it is the people who experience them,” added Kent. “We want our 40th anniversary to reflect those voices. Whether it was a staff member who made a difference, a program that supported a family, a volunteer or employment experience, or a time when someone simply knew that CRCNCW was there when they needed help, every story is part of our history.”
These personal reflections and organizational highlights will be shared with the public over the coming months, building up to an official 40th anniversary community celebration planned for this fall.
In addition to reflecting on past achievements, CRCNCW is preparing to roll out its new strategic framework, Our Path to Impact, this fall to guide its efforts into the future.
“Our Path to Impact is about asking an important question: How can we create even greater impact for our community in the years ahead?” Kent continued. “The needs of our community continue to evolve, and we need to evolve with them. Our next chapter will be shaped by partnership, advocacy, sustainability, and meaningful solutions that help people build lifelong stability.”
This strategic roadmap bridges the agency's 40-year legacy with the future needs of the region.
“At a time when affordability, housing, access and connection are critical issues in our community, CRCNCW has undeniable insight into what people are experiencing and, importantly, what it will take to move forward together. Our new strategic plan carries that insight forward, grounded in a deep understanding of our community, the realities of rural life and the evolving needs of the people who call North and Centre Wellington home,” said Courtney O’Neill, President of the CRCNCW Board of Directors.
Residents are invited to follow the agency's anniversary journey online and submit their own stories through the official 40 Stories for 40 Years submission form.
