Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this House to congratulate the West Island Community Resource Centre on 30 years of invaluable service to the community.
For the past three decades, the centre, a dynamic volunteer-driven organization, has been a vital community hub, partnering with local organizations to ensure that West Islanders in need have access to the full range of health and social services.
The CRC began as a coming together of a few social-minded individuals who recognized that there were many and various unmet needs in a community otherwise known for its enviable quality of life.
In the heart of the community were those experiencing life-changing events, ranging from job loss to sickness. Some youth faced difficult challenges that, in turn, placed pressure on families. Seniors and others were in need of information, guidance and advocacy.
Today, the CRC is evolving under the experienced leadership of its president, Georges Nydam, its dynamic board of directors and its new executive director, Katie Hadley, who together bring new energy and spirit to the centre's mission and operations.