It was the mid-90s when Stephanie joined the CNIB Lake Joseph Centre (as it was then known) as Program Manager. Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love” may have been playing on the morning announcements, or it could have been “The Sign” by the Ace of Base (remember them)?
Stephanie will tell you that camping has always been a huge part of her life. When she was younger, she camped with her family and attended Girl Guides camps. While pursuing a degree in physical education, she worked at camps in the kitchen and as a Waterfront Director.
“My supervisor was clear when they hired me that the camp at CNIB Lake Joe was a self-sustaining program,” Stephanie recalls. “If we didn’t raise the money, we simply didn’t run the program.”
At that time, CNIB Lake Joe ran a seven-week program primarily for adults and families, with a couple of weeks for children. There were also off-season rentals and a two-week dialysis camp program that helped generate revenue. Her goal was to give everyone the most amazing summer vacation experience possible.
Stephanie remembers working tirelessly off-season to raise $800,000 to run these programs.
“I was affectionately referred to as ‘Road Warrior’ since I spent so much time on the road, travelling across Ontario,” said Stephanie. “I talked to anyone who would listen about the value of this one-of-a-kind camp.”
A quintessential moment for her was spearheading a stewardship event for local Lions. Experiencing camp firsthand helped the Lions see the impact of their contributions and brought them even closer to the camp community.
“That was a huge moment where I realized I could do this for a living and stay in this industry,” Stephanie admits. “I fell in love with fundraising.”
After five years of balancing camp management with fundraising, Stephanie joined CNIB’s philanthropy team to support the work of 26 district offices across Ontario. Since then, she has been a senior-level fundraiser and operations manager for large non-profits that focus on all aspects of health and wellness.
“I always kept up with where CNIB Lake Joe was at through my social circle,” says Stephanie. “I had seen it progressing and becoming what it was always destined to be.”
On her birthday in 2020, Stephanie got a call from Monique Pilkington, CNIB Lake Joe’s Executive Director, to wish her a happy birthday and catch up.
“When Monique told me about CNIB Lake Joe today – that there were new programs for kids and that people were coming from across Canada and a new alumni group was being formed – I thought this would be something I could help with,” says Stephanie. “The pandemic was throwing everyone curve balls, but I decided then to join the CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board.”
In her role on the Board, Stephanie says she loves being the “behind-the-scenes facilitator,” making things seamless for staff and volunteers doing important front-line work. She became the Vice-Chair in 2024 and looks forward to continuing this work in her new role as Chair in April 2025.
“This is the best place I could be right now,” Stephanie adds. And she challenges everyone to get involved, even if they don’t have a specific connection to sight loss.
“Anybody can be incredibly effective at making social change. There are so many reasons for people to step up. There’s no barrier to being involved and making a difference.”
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We invite you to meet other members of the CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board