WHAT’S NEW

This spring, we came together to celebrate a powerful truth: when women thrive, communities flourish. In late May, Aunt Leah’s hosted a heartfelt gathering at our newest home, a Laneway House expansion on Boundary Road. This new space was built for and with women-led families in mind.

This event brought together donors, funders, volunteers, staff, board members, and our construction partners from both Aunt Leah’s Society and Aunt Leah’s Properties. Together, we honoured the transformative impact of women’s leadership and the compassionate community standing behind them.

Thanks to the Federal Government’s Reaching Home housing program, and the generosity of two anonymous donor families, the Laneway House is now complete and a safe, secure home for two women-led families. It’s more than a house — it’s a launchpad for dignity, stability, and a hopeful future.

She Thrives: Together, We Did It!

This year, the She Thrives campaign raised $358,000 to support the Thresholds program, a safe haven and stepping stone for mothers and their children living in Aunt Leah’s Properties’ homes.

On June 18, 2025, Aunt Leah’s Executive Director, Sarah Stewart addressed the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the 2026 Budget Consultation. Speaking both on behalf of Aunt Leah’s and as Co-Chair of the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, Sarah shared key recommendations to prevent homelessness for youth from care in B.C.

Her full remarks are shared below.

Good afternoon, and thank you to the Committee for the opportunity to present.

My name is Sarah Stewart, and I am the Executive Director of Aunt Leah’s Society, an organization that has supported youth from government care in British Columbia for 35 years. I also serve as Co-Chair of the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness.

I’m here today to speak about the urgent need for targeted investment in youth housing in Budget 2026.

In B.C., when youth age out of care at 19, they are expected to live independently—often without family, financial stability, or a safe place to live. As a result, they are 19 times more likely to experience homelessness. According to the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, 50% of homeless youth in B.C. have experience with government care.

Current Reality

In recent years, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has made meaningful progress. Through the SAJE program, youth from care now receive:

• $1,250/month in unconditional income support at ages 19 and 20
• A $600/month rent supplement up to age 27, if enrolled in education, training, or life skills

These are important investments. But income support alone doesn’t create housing.

The average rent for a one-bedroom in B.C. is over $2,180—and nearly $2,900 in Metro Vancouver. Young people from care may now have more money in their pockets, but there’s still nowhere for them to live.

This is because B.C. still lacks a youth housing strategy. While youth from care are recognized as a priority population by BC Housing, there is no dedicated youth housing portfolio, no tailored housing supports, and no coordinated plan across ministries. That’s the gap we need to close.

Recommendations and Final Remarks

For Budget 2026, we recommend the following three actions:

1. Create a Dedicated Youth Housing Strategy and Portfolio

Youth from care are not simply “young adults” in a general housing system. They are a distinct population requiring a tailored response. We need BC Housing to lead a dedicated youth housing strategy in partnership with MCFD and the Ministry of Housing. This strategy should include:

• A youth-focused housing portfolio
• Coordinated policy and service delivery between ministries
• Long-term alignment with the financial supports provided through SAJE

2. Fund Transitional Housing with Wraparound Supports

Youth need 3-5 year transitional housing programs that provide a stable bridge into adulthood. These programs must include wraparound supports: including mental health care, life skills development, education, and employment support—so that youth can succeed and thrive, not just survive.

This model is working. Aunt Leah’s is currently building a 90-unit mixed-income development that includes deeply subsidized housing for former youth in care. But non-profits like ours cannot meet the demand alone. This model must be scaled.

3. Expand Access to Rent Subsidies and Youth Housing Navigation

Even with current SAJE supports, many youth still fall short. B.C. needs to expand access to:

• Rent-geared-to-income units or deep subsidies for youth not in education or facing mental health and substance use barriers, and

Youth housing navigators and case managers to help youth find, secure, and maintain housing, and build long-term stability

These are not just housing solutions—they are smart, upstream investments in health, education, and justice.

Research from the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth shows that every $1 spent on youth housing with supports, saves $2 to $4 in public system costs.

This government has already shown leadership by investing in financial supports through SAJE. Now it’s time to take the next step: turn that financial support into real homes.

Budget 2026 is an opportunity to close a critical gap, prevent youth homelessness, and offer young people a path to independence and belonging.
Thank you for your time. I welcome any questions.

2025 Jeremy Wright Award Recipient | Follow Your Bliss

Each year, Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, and virtues of the young people we serve during BC Child and Youth in Care Week. Staff and peers nominate individuals for five unique awards, and our leadership team selects recipients who exemplify the values behind each one.

This year, we are proud to present the Jeremy Wright Award to Taryn,

Taryn is an outstanding 17-year-old who joined the Support Link program in October 2024 and has since demonstrated remarkable dedication, resilience, and drive. From her very first weeks in
the program, Taryn stood out as someone deeply committed to personal growth and determined to build a successful future for herself.

In February 2025, Taryn achieved an impressive milestone by graduating high school early with excellent grades. Rather than taking a break, she immediately enrolled in a post-secondary
automotive sampler course at Vancouver Community College, where she completed the program with an outstanding 93%. Her time in the course helped her gain valuable hands-on experience
and solidified her interest in a career in the trades.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Taryn demonstrates an admirable level of responsibility and ambition. She works daily at an automotive shop, where she is gaining invaluable hands-on
experience. Balancing full-time studies with a demanding work schedule would be a challenge for anyone, but Taryn does so with resilience, maturity, and a consistently positive attitude. She
approaches each day with a clear sense of purpose and always seeks opportunities to grow, even when faced with difficulties.

What truly sets Taryn apart is not only her ambition, but also her character. She brings a positive, encouraging presence to the Support Link community and participates consistently in
programming with enthusiasm and kindness. Taryn builds strong relationships with peers and staff alike, offering support to others, checking in on friends, and contributing to a welcoming
environment. Her ability to stay grounded, adapt to change, and remain focused through challenges is a testament to her resilience.

Looking forward, Taryn plans to enter the Automotive Collision and Refinishing program this September while continuing to gain work experience. She is also interested in taking on
additional roles that will allow her to develop her skills even further.

Taryn is a motivated, kind-hearted, and hardworking individual who exemplifies what it means to follow your passion while striving to be your best self.  She is well on her way to achieving great things, and we are proud to recognize her with this award.

About the Jeremy Wright Award – Character & Determination

The Jeremy Wright Award was  created to honour the memory of  Jeremy Wright, a support worker that was very special to the organization. Each year, we present this award  and bursary to a youth  in the Support Link program who “follows their bliss” and actively strives towards to achieve their personal best.

2025 Leadership Award Recipient | Honouring Advocacy, Empowerment, and Positive Leadership

Each year during BC’s Child and Youth in Care Week, Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience, and contributions of the young people we serve. Staff and peers nominate participants who inspire others and make an impact in their community. Our leadership team selects winners in five award categories, and we come together at a special event to honour them.

Meet Jordan, this year’s Leadership Award recipient.

Jordan began his connection with Aunt Leah’s 9 years ago when he joined the Support Link program. At that time, he was an aspiring chef in his school’s “Youth WORK in Trades” program. A multi-skilled individual, he often explored different passions like spoken word projects and sea chanties, especially in his Celtic music phase.

We are very proud that Jordan has found a way to combine his passions for food and cooking with his desire to share his culinary knowledge with others. Beginning with FoodSafe training, he is, with help from the Education team, planning to continue with Food Technology at BCIT.

Today, Jordan has found a powerful way to bring his love of cooking and food together with his desire to share his culinary knowledge with others. Beginning with FoodSafe training, and with support from Aunt Leah’s Education team, he is planning to continue into the Food Technology program at BCIT. His goal is to become a FoodSafe instructor, teaching others the skills and practices he’s mastered.

Even though he is working diligently towards his education, he finds time to help Fulton, our Food Security Specialist with food preparation on Wednesdays. His contributions include carrying in groceries, preparing ingredients, comparing recipes, advising on spices and ensuring everyone in the kitchen area is being both FoodSafe and WorkSafe.

Jordan has become an important part of the Aunt Leah’s community and is now making a point of giving back to it. He has mentored other participants in the kitchen, helping them with their knife skills, for example. He has even been spotted assembling office furniture!

We are very pleased that Jordan is growing and giving back to Aunt Leah’s. He has shown leadership, advocacy, and a commitment to empowering others. His ongoing connection to Aunt Leah’s demonstrates how strength and resilience can grow when young people are given the right support. He is a great example for other youth of someone finding their feet and journeying to their place in the world.

Jordan’s journey is a reminder that when youth are given support and opportunity, they can grow into confident leaders ready to give back.

About the Leadership Award

This annual award and bursary is presented in honour of Pam Costello, a long-time and deeply respected member of Aunt Leah’s team. Over her 21 years with the organization, Pam held roles from Family Support Worker to Director of Operations. Her leadership was defined by her ability to take initiative, empower others, and build safety and belonging for young people connected to Aunt Leah’s. In her memory, we honour a participant who embodies Pam’s values of positive leadership, advocacy, and commitment to others.

2025 Rona Award Recipient | Recognizing Kindness, Compassion and Pride

As part of our annual recognition during BC Child and Youth in Care Week, Aunt Leah’s presents five awards to outstanding young people in our programs. These awards celebrate the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve.

Dylan, is the recipient of this year’s Rona Award.

Dylan has been part of Aunt Leah’s for just over two years. He resides in one of our Lale program houses and is also connected with a number of our services, such as Education and Employment, Fresh Air Fridays, the Youth Advisory Committee, and our weekly grocery program. Lale House provides a supportive home where he can focus on his goals and hobbies.

Dylan came to Aunt Leah’s seeking stability after aging out of care and in doing so, became a source of strength and warmth for others in the program. 

Despite growing up in foster care system and navigating mental health challenges, Dylan consistently demonstrates a warm and positive attitude, approaching life with openness and ambition, turning adversity into passion and never settling for less — qualities that deeply reflect the spirit of the Rona Award.

Dylan is known by peers, housemates, staff and the larger community for his kind and outgoing nature. He makes a point of engaging meaningfully with anyone he meets, whether reaching out to a stranger with a greeting or sharing detailed knowledge with staff on various subjects of interest. His positive attitude is immediately evident, definitely contagious and brings the same out in others.

Dylan creatively channels difficulties into strengths – starting his own streetwear line with upcycled clothing and his own hand-embroidered designs and often expressing thoughtful commentary on complex socio-political issues. Dylan enjoys painting, outdoor sports, thrifting, fashion, collecting and enjoying many vintage books, comics, music, and films, which reflect his deep
appreciation for art, culture and history.

He has advocated for others in care by contributing to the Youth Advisory Committee, offering his voice and perspective to help others receive the care and attention they need. He has given media interviews to share his story and spread awareness of Aunt Leah’s services. In addition, Dylan actively seeks out ways to give back to the broader community. He has been volunteering with
the Adopt-a-Street Program in New Westminster, showing pride in his community to help keep it clean, and always makes sure to leave a stack of books in the local sidewalk libraries when he finds them empty. Dylan has recently applied to a Big Brothers mentorship program and is preparing to mentor younger youth in care.  All of this is a reflection of the esteem and pride he places in his own actions and in the value of his various communities.

Dylan embodies the values of kindness, compassion, pride and quiet strength that defined Rona’s legacy and is the deserving recipient of this year’s award.

About the Rona Award – Kindness, Compassion, Strength, and Pride

This award is presented in honour of Rona Castagnier, a long-time co-worker, and friend of Aunt Leah’s. Rona was a very strong, kind, compassionate, and proud person. Rona would not hesitate to give someone her last dollar if they were in need, even if it meant that she would go without. In honor of Rona, Aunt Leah’s gives an annual award and bursary to a student from one of Aunt Leah’s Training Programs who has shown the characteristics that Rona appreciated the most.

Honouring the 2025 Leah Award Winner during BC’s Child and Youth in Care Week

Ruby joined the Thresholds program at Aunt Leah’s House in May 2024, six months pregnant and full of quiet strength. Described by her longtime Urban Native Youth Association housing support worker as “a mentor, always looking out for the younger kids,” Ruby quickly became a steady and thoughtful presence for other moms, children, and staff.

In August 2024, Ruby became a mother for the first time. She’s known for the deep affection, protection, and nurturing care she gives to her daughter Jasmine. During this first year of
motherhood, Ruby has shown a strong value for family bonds and makes great efforts to make the time and sacrifices to contact and travel to her family. 

Each year, during BC Child and Youth in Care Week, Aunt Leah’s honours the strength, determinations and resilience, and leadership of the young people we serve. Staff and peers nominate youth for five awards. This year, Ruby is being recognized with the Leah Award, which celebrates a young person who shows unconditional care and support for others.

Ruby’s story reflects deep cultural pride and personal resilience. She attends ceremonies, connects with Elders, and dreams of teaching Jasmine Oji-Cree and traditional dance. Despite personal hardships, Ruby continues to lift others up—offering support, checking in on peers, and helping create a welcoming space for everyone around her.

Ruby sees the best in those around her whether they’re participants, the babies, staff, community supporters, or her own family. When Ruby shares her thoughts, she speaks with an
empathetic and insightful perspective. On an average day, her humor and warmth is a big part of why Aunt Leah’s House is a comfortable home to be in. She’s preparing to return to adult education and continues to engage in programs like SMILE, UNYA, and Aunt Leah’s Mom & Baby group, where she’s a supportive and reflective participant.

Ruby embodies the spirit of the Leah Award: someone who gives freely of herself with care, empathy, and strength.

About the Leah Award – Unconditional Love and Support

This award is given in honour of, our friend and long-time supporter, Bruce Ambrose. He was known by family for his unconditional love and support as he shared his wisdom while helping in fundraising endeavors as a donor and dedicated volunteer of Aunt Leah’s. In honor of Bruce, Aunt Leah’s gives an annual award and bursary to a program participant who has shown unconditional love and support to others.

2025 Champion Award Recipient | Honouring BC Child and Youth in Care Week

Each year, during BC Child and Youth in Care Week Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination and contributions of the young people we serve. Staff and peers nominate individuals who have shown exceptional leadership, growth, and care, and winners are selected across five award categories. At a special celebration, we gather to honour their achievements.

This year, we are proud to honour Jaya, a 17-year-old Métis youth and Support Link participant, as the 2025 Champion Award recipient.

Since joining the program in April 2025, Jaya has stood out for her compassion, leadership, and strong sense of community. From the moment she joined, Jaya stood out as someone who leads with empathy and consistently uplifts those around her. But Jaya’s commitment to service began long before her time with us.

She has volunteered in elementary schools helping younger students with schoolwork and activities, and also dedicated time to supporting elders. She continues to be involved in this work by MCing and waitressing at local elders’ events at Metis Family Services—roles that highlight her confidence, warmth, and commitment to making others feel valued.

Jaya is also a former school committee member, where she helped organize inclusive events and advocated for student well-being. Her leadership was rooted in kindness and the desire to make
sure everyone felt included and heard. Since joining Support Link, she has carried this same spirit forward—offering support to peers, checking in on friends, and sharing what she has with
those who may have less, including food and snacks. These small but powerful acts of generosity show her natural ability to care for others without seeking recognition.

Within the program, Jaya actively participates in group activities and contributes to a welcoming, supportive environment. She listens deeply, speaks up with confidence when needed, and treats
staff and peers alike with respect. Her maturity and emotional intelligence are evident in how she navigates challenges and supports others through their own.

Looking ahead, Jaya hopes to continue her advocacy by joining Aunt Leah’s Youth Advisory Committee and becoming a peer advisor for other youth in foster care. With her lived experience
and passion for helping others, she is incredibly well-positioned to inspire and support fellow youth navigating similar journeys.

Jaya is a grounded, compassionate, and powerful young person whose leadership and heart leave a lasting impact on everyone she meets. She is a truly deserving for this award and a shining
example of what it means to lead with purpose and kindness.

About The Champion Award 

The Champion award is given in honour of Aunt Leah’s former Human Resources Coordinator Jennifer McFarlane. Jennifer established connections with everyone at Aunt Leah’s using humor, laughter, thoughtfulness, and appreciation. Jennifer loved that her work in Human Resources was part of Aunt Leah’s mission. She had a deep appreciation for the community of support established at Aunt Leah’s and the services provided. In honour of Jennifer, Aunt Leah’s presents an annual award and bursary to an individual who has been active in championing positive change for youth and families affected by the foster care system.

Thank you for your incredible generosity. Whether you donated, volunteered, sponsored, or spread the word, your support of our fundraising efforts this past season means we have the resources to focus on what we do best—creating opportunities for Aunt Leah’s youth, moms, and their babies to thrive.

At Aunt Leah’s, we believe that a safe and supportive space isn’t just about providing housing, education, and life skills—it’s about ensuring everyone feels like they belong. As we step into 2025, we have a renewed commitment to strengthening that sense of belonging, meeting young people where they are, and pushing to remove systemic barriers that continue to create inequities.

Now more than ever, we must stand together, advocate for equity and justice, and create safe spaces where all young people can thrive and reach their full potential.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your generosity helps us build a community where every young person is valued and supported.

Things that count:

• 1284 donors made  3929 gifts
• 4707  trees sold
• 175 volunteers gave their time

A  special thank you to Magik Moments, a Photo Booth Rental in Vancouver for  bringing their Mystik Photo booth to Aunt Leah’s Vancouver  tree lot on December 1st and make the day special.  Our customers had a lot of  fun taking their photos with the different props.

• Supporting Employment Needs
• Aunt Leah’s Properties Update – New Laneway House in Burnaby

Construction of our laneway house at Aunt Leah’s House in Burnaby has been completed! We  conceived of this home as  “small housing”, a low-cost, low-risk model to increase available housing on the property. The first families will be welcomed in coming months.

“We are excited to open our new laneway house in Burnaby just behind Aunt Leah’s House.  Not only does this home provide more affordable housing, it offers a safe, secure transition for mom’s and kids from our Thresholds program to independence in the community. Moms are able to use the skills and abilities they have gained to take their next steps toward their goals.  The support of our staff and the network of other moms from the program is only a doorstep away and ensures their success.”

— Aman Mohem,  Supportive Housing Manager at Aunt Leah’s

The Thresholds Program supports moms and children with wrap-around programs and services in 2 shared homes owned by Aunt Leah’s Properties.

Aunt Leah’s Properties wishes to thank everyone who helped bring this project to fruition. 

The laneway house was made possible by the City of Burnaby, a committed development partner and supporter of Aunt Leah’s mission and affordable housing. The project was funded by an Infrastructure Canada’s Reaching Home Capital Projects grant, as was the recent rebuilding of Aunt Leah’ House initiative. Reaching Home’s funding was critical to the success of this project, however, given the size of the project, it was not eligible for other sources of funding and financing.

Luckily two very generous individual donors read about the project in Aunt Leah’s E-Newsletter and jumped in. While private donations provide for the entire cost of the Thresholds program, it is also true that donations to capital projects can ensure the viability of projects that don’t fit the mold of traditional government funding sources. 

“From our family to yours: We feel privileged to support Aunt Leah’s and their life-changing work. It is a pleasure to assist by providing tools and support that empower young moms and their babies to thrive.”

— Karen

One of the donors, who wishes to remain anonymous said:

“We have known about your wonderful work for years, and are honoured to make a contribution to this great initiative. We hope you can build many more!” 

Non-profits play a key role in resolving the housing crisis by first and foremost, ensuring affordability. They also sustainably leverage existing assets, offer unique types of housing solutions to match need, responsibly steward the land and available resources, and care for and maintain housing in the best way possible so tenants can enjoy a safe, secure home and quality of life.

As a non-profit housing provider, Aunt Leah’s Properties works to maximize the housing it provides to youth supported by Aunt Leah’s. In some cases this means developing new properties such as our New Westminster Marine Way project, with funding from BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund or acquiring existing rental properties like our Pender St property made possible by BC’s Rental Protection Fund. 

It truly takes caring individuals and three levels of government with vision and commitment to create an equitable community for youth at risk because of their involvement with the foster care system.  We deeply appreciate your support for the laneway house and our projects in progress.

For many young people coming out of foster care it’s not that quick and easy.  Aunt Leah’s employment programs work with each participant to support their individual needs and goals. 

Employment program Coordinator Rachel Ewing defined Aunt Leah’s philosophy and approach. 

“We connect with each participant to create an atmosphere of trust and a deeper understanding of what next steps short and longer term might be. Youth often haven’t been told that they can plan for the future – that they can do more than just meet their basic needs.”

Rachel is inspired when she sees people start to gain independence and begin to enjoy what they do. 

Many of our participants have no job experience or have been out of work for a long time. It takes a lot of courage to take those first steps. It can take time to build self-confidence. Rachel is trying out a new approach starting in February which creates an easy way to learn core skills.

Fresh Air Fridays. Each week, she’ll take youth on a walk outdoors or lead an activity, either outside or indoors, depending on the weather.  

This easy access get together will be great for anyone looking for support with time management, building routines, connecting with others and getting outdoors. 

More structured one to one learning opportunities take place Thursday afternoons at the New Westminster Resource Centre. From 2- 4pm Rachel and volunteer Susan, offer one to one coaching, help with goal setting, computer skills, resume writing and cover letters.  Last week 6 participants dropped in to start their job search.

As well Rachel is building on-line learning modules that lay out the different aspects of gaining employability. These modules allow youth to learn at home or at community centres and libraries.

Asked what she would love to offer participants, Rachel suggests –  opportunities for youth to meet people in accessible industries – hospitality, retail and warehouse so they can find out first hand what jobs are actually like.  She aims to run an employment info session monthly. 

If you would like to volunteer to share your experience with  a young person about your industry, workplace or career path please contact Rachel at [email protected] or by phone 604-679-8099

As the leaves turn colour, the nights grow cooler and students return to school, our thoughts turn to the Thanksgiving holiday and feelings of gratitude.  Aunt Leah’s is fortunate to have your support. In a world where challenges are vast and difficulties seem unrelenting, your choice to make a difference in the lives of young people leaving foster care is a gift that reaps tangible results. 

In this issue, we share the story of our University of British Columbia partnership that paves the way for foster youth to step into the world of higher education, a young woman whose education and career was made possible with our help, and why one donor has committed to our education program through monthly giving.   

You’ll find  information on our upcoming Tree Sales and a call for volunteers to once again help us with this annual fundraising initiative. 

We’re also pleased to announce that Charity Intelligence has awarded Aunt Leah’s a 5-star rating again this year! 

As always please accept our thanks and deep appreciation for all you do for foster youth.

• Andrea’s Story
• Aunt Leah’s and UBC Join Forces to Support Foster Youth on Their Educational Journey

Special thanks to our monthly donors

As we prepare for the giving season we express special gratitude to our monthly donors who are the foundation of our financial stability.  We count on your support and we are able to deliver our programs because of it.

 “We are fortunate to be able to support our children’s and grandchildren’s education. We believe that education should be available for all who want it; not just for the fortunate. This is why we support Aunt Leah’s High Needs Fund.” 

— Peter Hall and Pamela Stern, Monthly Donors

To learn more about about becoming a monthly donor, please contact Dumi Owane through email or phone at [email protected] and 778-773-3475.

Become a Monthly Donor>>