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WHAT’S NEW
As summer arrives, we gather with family and friends in parks, at festivals, concerts and sporting events. While Vancouver welcomes visitors from around the world for the FIFA World Cup we also celebrate our diverse communities of culture, art and interests. Aunt Leah’s deeply appreciates our community’s shared purpose – one that makes meaningful change possible for those affected by the child welfare system.
In this newsletter, we celebrate the successes of our She Thrives Campaign, look back on Child and Youth in Care Week, recognize the achievements of one of our inspiring award recipients, and share a housing update from Aunt Leah’s Properties. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
She Thrives
Thanks to your generosity, advocacy, and engagement the campaign raised $29,830, exceeded its fundraising goal and unlocked the full $25,000 matching gift offered by Anne in support of our Thresholds program for vulnerable women at risk of losing custody of their children.
Just as importantly, the campaign raised awareness about the realities facing young women leaving government care, especially those who are pregnant or parenting.
Thank you to the 39 people who donated, all of you who shared a story, attended an event, learned more about the issues, or helped spread the word. She Thrives created opportunities to listen to lived experiences, deepen understanding, and strengthen support for young women and families in our community.
At Aunt Leah’s, we celebrated by hosting our Annual Youth Awards ceremony and an outing for youth to Central City Fun Park.
The Youth Awards event brought participants, staff, donors, and volunteers together to recognize young people who demonstrate resilience, leadership, kindness, determination, and a commitment to their goals.
This year, we were proud to recognize five outstanding award recipients:
- Jeremy Wright Award: Amarissa Jackson
- Champion Award: Lin Ksor
- Rona Award: Ashley Bezanson
- Leah Award: Samantha Siu
- Leadership Award: Jade Ryan
Congratulations to this year’s recipients.
Below, we are pleased to share the story of Ashley, our Rona Award recipient.
Ashley, Rona Award recipient
As a former youth in care and a single mother to a six-year-old daughter, Ashley has shown incredible resilience while building a future that works for both of them.
Finding a career path that offered both financial stability and the flexibility required for solo parenting was a key challenge. Through the Employ to Empower Business Skills Training Program, Ashley discovered a pathway to self-employment that allows her to support her family while remaining present in her daughter’s life.
Through this journey, Ashley turned her passion for holistic wellness into Green Fairy Apothecary, a small business offering handmade soaps, bath bombs, and bath soaks.
Ashley has created a path where she does not have to choose between providing for her child and being present in her life. Her determination and clear vision for her future continue to shape a life grounded in stability, purpose, and care for both herself and her daughter.
We extend our congratulations to Ashley on receiving the 2026 Rona Award and on the path she continues to create with her daughter.
Aunt Leah’s Properties Update
Our Marine Way 89 units of affordable housing are under construction! We’re pleased to report that the project is making good progress. The best vantage point to take in the extent of our building site is from the Skytrain looking south. This photo was taken 8 weeks ago. Expect to see a much higher building now.
The complex will feature studio, one, two and three bedroom homes. Homes will provide a continuum of housing options offered at deeply subsidized, rent geared to income and below market rates. Youth aging out of foster care and mothers in need of safe, affordable housing will be given priority as appropriate. The tenanting process has begun with the building opening planned for mid 2027.
Aunt Leah’s and UBC Join Forces to Support Foster Youth on Their Educational Journey
We’re excited to share that Aunt Leah’s has partnered with the University of British Columbia, through a grant from the Community-University Engagement Support Fund. This grant supports youth from care to build confidence in their learning ability as they consider post-secondary education.
As part of this initiative, youth receive support from UBC and Aunt Leah’s staff to develop their educational plans as well as mentorship from other young adults who have experienced foster care. These mentors have either completed or are currently pursuing post-secondary education. This is an amazing opportunity for participants to see themselves reflected in others who have overcome similar barriers. Many may be the first in their families to attend college.
Jonathan Lopez, a long-term Aunt Leah’s volunteer and UBC Advisor, explains that although UBC has Enrolment Service Advisors in its faculties, youth from care often hesitate to approach large institutions. They feel more comfortable seeking support from Aunt Leah’s staff and peers, who can offer the guidance they need to succeed.
Jonathan’s advocacy and dedication to Aunt Leah’s youth has been instrumental in this partnership. Shayla Walker, Program Manager of UBC’s Community-University Engagement Support Fund, shares why they chose to support this project. “We were drawn to the clear focus on serving Former Youth in Care, an equity-deserving group with a well-documented need for support in pursuing post-secondary education. The program’s aim to create pathways that connect youth with mentors and individuals who share similar lived experiences is crucial. We were impressed by the deep, established relationship between UBC and Aunt Leah’s, built on prior collaborations, and the co-applicant’s strong understanding of Aunt Leah’s inner workings from their previous volunteer and project work. This long-standing engagement ensures that the program is not only relevant but also built on insights gained through meaningful prior experience.
Our hope is that this grant will further support the young people Aunt Leah’s serves by creating more robust mentoring relationships and support systems that will help them navigate the complexities of post-secondary education. By fostering these connections, the program provides not only educational pathways but also a sense of belonging, which is critical to their success. In addition, we look forward to seeing how this initiative will capture valuable insights through its findings, helping to inform future educational supports, both within UBC and beyond.”
We are incredibly grateful to Jonathan and UBC for their support and can’t wait to share the journeys of our youth as they pursue their academic goals!
About UBC’s Community Engagement Office:
The Community Engagement office helps to connect local community partners with UBC resources and people. Our purpose is to advance reciprocal community-university engagement for a more equitable and just world. We strive to ensure that the expertise and assets that communities bring to UBC are valued and that it is easy for community partners, particularly historically, persistently or systemically marginalized groups, to engage meaningfully with UBC.
Andrea’s Story
I first connected with someone from Aunt Leah’s while serving in a restaurant over the summer, trying to save for my nursing program. I mentioned to a customer that I was working long hours because I am a former foster kid trying to get through my nursing program. As fate would have it, she worked for Aunt Leah’s and gave me their contact information. That interaction changed the entire course of my life.
At the time, my days were exhausting. I took the SkyTrain downtown early each morning for my first job, working the lunch shift at a restaurant and bar downtown. After that, I’d eat lunch on the train while commuting to my second job, which would end in the late hours of the evening. With the commute, I was working 12+ hours a day, six days a week. I was physically drained, and I had no idea how I’d ever save enough to finish nursing school. I had no family support and was also quite shell-shocked from some of my earlier traumatic experiences in life, which made things a lot more difficult. I was burning myself out physically, emotionally, and spiritually trying to get an education, and I felt so hopeless.
Education has always been a sensitive topic for me. I was living on my own without financial assistance from the Ministry of Children and Families at a young age. When most kids were starting grade 10, I was working full-time at a call centre and trying to scrounge up enough money for rent and food. I’m not too sure where my social worker was at the time…When I finally got the chance to graduate high school through a night school program and then attend University, I quickly realized it was going to be a lot harder for me to succeed than for most people. I had no family support, and scholarships and students would barely cover rent and basic living expenses in Vancouver. I had no safety net.
After connecting with Aunt Leah’s, for the first time, I felt hope that I could complete my nursing program. They helped me with money towards rent, a scholarship through Spencer Creo Foundation, and groceries when things were tight. Because of their support, I was able to maintain the grade point average that was required for me to maintain my eligibility in the program. Equally as important, Aunt Leah’s support worker gave me a safe space and understood how difficult it was for me to pursue my dreams.
Today, I work as a specialized high acuity cardiac Registered Nurse at a local hospital, and I’m also a part of the Code Blue team that handles resuscitations for deteriorating patients. After so many years of poverty and struggle, I finally have a good career and I’m self-sufficient, thriving, and able to provide for myself. I would have never been able to do this without the support I received from Aunt Leah’s. I was so close to giving up, but Aunt Leah’s gave me the hope and resources to finish my program and achieve my dreams.
Summer 2024 Newsletter
As the summer sun shines brightly, we’re excited to share the latest highlights in our quarterly newsletter. This edition celebrates the accomplishments of our annual youth award recipients, acknowledges the thoughtfulness of a Leah’s Legacy donor, and announces our most ambitious housing projects to date.
With our gardens blooming and our initiatives growing, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support. Your dedication is driving significant progress in providing safe, secure housing and support for youth in care. We’re thrilled about the positive impact these new projects will have on many young lives. Thank you for being with us as we embark on these exciting new ventures!
And the Winner is…..
Every year the province of BC recognizes Child and Youth in Care Week to raise awareness of the strength, diversity, talents, and resilience of youth in and from care in the province. Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience and just plain goodness of the young people we serve. Our staff and peers come forward with nominations and our leadership team votes for the winners. Then we gather at a wildly special event that showcases these tremendous young leaders.
Here are the winners:
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More Stories:
A Legacy to Support Youth’s Dreams
As summer provides time to slow down and reflect on the year past and the remainder ahead, we want to express our gratitude for the consistent longtime support we receive from so many of our supporters and donors. Two of our very special friends, Judi and Don Curtiss, took the time to share their story of care and commitment to foster youth and our work. We hope that you will find it inspiring.
“We first heard about Aunt Leah’s in the 1990s through my husband’s aunt who was downsizing her home of 40 years. She told us of this great organization that helps youth coming out of foster care, and also young Moms who were on their own. We also had some things that needed ‘new homes’, so I packed them up and delivered them to the Thrift Store. While there, I learned more about Aunt Leah’s programs and the Tree Lots. I was particularly happy to give to an organization where all the funds raised went directly to their programs. I love Christmas, so decided I would like to volunteer some time to the tree lots. It was the start of many years of volunteering and eventually becoming a monthly supporter of the organization.
Over the years, we learned more about the programs offered for the youth. So many basic life skills that most of us learned from our parents—the importance of education, cooking, managing money, how to find employment etc., as well as the emotional support of the ‘family’ at Aunt Leah’s. Safe housing for young Moms who might otherwise have had their babies taken from them is also so important. There have been so many wonderful success stories over the years. Young people who have been supported and encouraged to reach their dreams, be it to get a University degree or just to establish a stable loving family of their own.
I was lucky to grow up in a loving family who supported and encouraged me along the road to adulthood. My parents were both involved throughout their lives in various groups to help those in less fortunate circumstances. They both volunteered at a Children’s camp supported by my Dad’s union, and were also involved with what was then The Children’s Aid Society. If Mom knew of someone who had nowhere to go for a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner, they were always included in our family gatherings. Our family developed an on-going relationship with one young girl through Children’s Aid, and I learned first hand how traumatic it could be for children who were shuffled around from one foster home to another. No wonder so many youth coming out of Foster Care have a tough time coping with being faced with the ‘adult’ world when they age out of care! After a rough start, she went on to have a successful career in nursing, and we are still in touch, 60 years later.
We have been monthly donors to Aunt Leah’s for several years, and, not having children of our own, decided to leave a legacy to Aunt Leah’s in our wills. Our hope is that it will help to keep the important work that Aunt Leah’s is doing! If you feel you might be interested in finding out more about leaving a gift to Aunt Leah’s, please take a few minutes to look at Aunt Leah’s website to learn more about the amazing impact this organization has had on so many young lives. The founder and current executive would welcome your interest and be happy to tell you more.”
Sincerely,
Judi and Don Curtis
Make a Gift Through Your Will >>
Aunt Leah’s Properties In the News
You may have noticed Aunt Leah’s Properties in the news lately.
Recently the New Westminster Record reported that “At its July 8 meeting, city council voted 3-2 in support of three readings to a zoning amendment bylaw for 1923 and 1927 Marine Way, where Aunt Leah’s Properties plans to build a six-storey affordable housing project. It will provide about 90 units of affordable housing to youths and young mothers transitioning from the foster care system to independent living.”
This project is still a few years away from providing actual housing, and there is a significant amount of work to be done between now and then. We are deeply engaged in planning for the project and grateful for the support of the City of New Westminster, BC Housing and the broader community.
Aunt Leah’s Properties diligently addresses all the hurdles in our mission to buy and build more housing for youth aging out of care and families. As many of you know, finding safe and affordable housing is becoming increasingly challenging, as voiced by the young people and families we serve and our staff who support their housing search.
We are equally pleased to tell you that with funding from the B.C. Rental Protection Fund, Aunt Leah’s Properties was able to acquire and protect 41 units of affordable housing in North Burnaby. Built in 1970s, the building is in excellent repair and Aunt Leah’s Properties looks forward to providing homes as they come available to Aunt Leah’s participants. The Rental Protection Fund contribution allows Properties to continue upgrades to the building and units, thus ensuring the longevity of the building and improved quality of life for its tenants. We aim to welcome our first participant as a new tenant this fall.
These projects are a testament to the strong partnership between Aunt Leah’s Properties and Society. We look forward to our continued collaboration over the coming years as we plan and develop wonderful homes and a community for an amazing group of young people and families.
Celebrating Positive Leadership and Advocacy: Chelsea’s Story
Every year the province of BC recognizes Child and Youth in Care Week to raise awareness of the strength, diversity, talents, contributions, and dreams of youth in and from care in the province. Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve. Our staff and peers come forward with nominations and our leadership team votes for winners in 5 categories. Then we gather at a special event to honour the winners.
One of the 5 awards is The Leadership Award- Positive Leadership, Advocacy, Empowerment
This annual award and bursary is presented in honour of Pam Costello , a long-time and very esteemed co-worker at Aunt Leah’s. Pam was a solid fixture at Aunt Leah’s for nearly 21 years. She began her career with Aunt Leah’s as a Family Support Worker for teen mothers at Aunt Leah’s House, moved on to work as a youth worker in the Support Link Program, and became the Program’s Coordinator. Pam’s leadership abilities and willingness to grow, moved her into the position of Director of Operations; a “jack of all trades” she always surprised us with her ability to get stuff done. Pam went above and beyond to ensure the young people connected to Aunt Leah’s were safe and supported.
Chelsea is this year’s Leadership Award Recipient. You may recognize Chelsea from our Mother’s Day story “Mom’s Who Beat the Odds“, and this time we’re sharing more about her drive and achievements..
Chelsea is proud of her Indigenous heritage and vocal about making positive changes within her culture. Her kind spirit and helpful approach enables her to support younger moms with parenting and cooking skills. Chelsea has said that her journey with Aunt Leah’s has helped her be more confident and has given her the tools to trust herself to be a better mother for her two daughters.
Chelsea began her journey with Aunt Leah’s at age 15, as a participant at Aunt Leah’s House, where she gave birth to her first daughter. She was the first person to receive the Aunt Leah award in 2011 because of her dedication to herself and her new baby. She moved back to Toronto with her young daughter to reconnect with their Indigenous community. She became a licensed nail and skin technician in Toronto and was very successful. She continued to thrive as a young entrepreneur and had her second daughter in 2017. In 2020 she moved back to BC and reconnected with Aunt Leah’s.
Chelsea is self-motivated and resourceful; she is full of ideas and always works on projects. A few of her professional achievements are:
- Graduating from the Indigenous Community Entrepreneurship Development & Action Recovery program at Gustavson University in Victoria.
- Completing an internship in a communication program, Indigenous 150, through Films in August of 2022.
- Getting hired as a communication coordinator and works on a new youth series which will be released this summer.
- Beginning the Global Make-up Diploma Program in January 2024, offered to the Indigenous community by Blanche MacDonald.
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More Award Winner Stories:
Melanie, A Role Model of Unconditional Love & Support
Every year the province of BC recognizes Child and Youth in Care Week to raise awareness of the strength, diversity, talents, contributions, and dreams of youth in and from care in the province. Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve. Our staff and peers come forward with nominations and our leadership team votes for winners in 5 categories. Then we gather at a special event to honour the winners.
One of the 5 awards is the Leah Award.
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.
Meet Melani, this year’s Leah Award Recipient.
After surviving many hardships, Melani came to Canada to make a better life for herself and her baby. She was 8 months pregnant when she began her stay at Thresholds, one of Aunt Leah’s supported homes.
Here, she found a stable, safe, and loving home environment where she is learning how to care for her baby with the guidance of our family support workers. Through weekly programming designed to support Melanie’s parenting and life skills development, Aunt Leah’s Thresholds staff have been thrilled to watch this caring, helpful, and courageous young woman become an amazing mother to her 6-month-old baby boy. Melanie is very independent and takes care of others in the house.
Melanie is getting ready to successfully parent and live independently with her baby. Her long-term goals are to become a Canadian citizen, attend schooling for estheticians and/or cosmetics and get a full-time job that allows her to provide for herself and her son.
With her independence and dedication to looking after others, Melani serves as an excellent role model of unconditional love and support.
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More Award Winner Stories:
Ashley, A Champion for Youth from Care
Every year the province of BC recognizes Child and Youth in Care Week to raise awareness of the strength, diversity, talents, contributions, and dreams of youth in and from care in the province. Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve. Our staff and peers come forward with nominations and our leadership team votes for winners in 5 categories. Then we gather at a special event to honour the winners.
One of the 5 awards is The Champion Award – Creating Positivity
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.
Meet Ashley, this year’s Champion Award Recipient.
Ashley has actively championed youth in and from care for more than 10 years. She has been on the front lines of driving positive policy change for youth aging out of care, which culminated in the expanded support of the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE) program announced in April 2024 by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
She is a founding youth member of Fostering Change, an initiative of Vancouver Foundation to improve policy, practice, and community connections for young people in BC transitioning from foster care to adulthood and Program Coordinator for the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness.
Ashley has also been Operations Manager for the TRRUST (Transition in Resources, Relationship and Understanding Support Together) a Collective Impact initiative composed of over 60 organizations and 250 members, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and young people with lived experience in care. TRRUST’s goal is to achieve system-wide improvements for youth transitioning out of government care in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Ashley has been Co-chair of Aunt Leah’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for the past two years where she provides lived experience insight and wisdom to Aunt Leah’s programming and planning.
She is attending the United Way Policy Institute to develop her advocacy skills that will further her leadership skills as she creates positive change for youth in and from care.
Ashley demonstrates strong leadership, wisdom, resilience, and strength, which are crucial to creating a positive and supportive community that encourages youth with lived experience to advocate for change.
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More Award Winner Stories:
Celebrating Resilience and Kindness: Ali’s Story
Every year the province of BC recognizes Child and Youth in Care Week to raise awareness of the strength, diversity, talents, contributions, and dreams of youth in and from care in the province. Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve. Our staff and peers come forward with nominations and our leadership team votes for winners in 5 categories. Then we gather at a special event to honour the winners.
One of the 5 awards is the The Rona Award.
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.
Meet Ali, this year’s Rona Award Recipient.
As a refugee from Afghanistan, Ali has faced the challenges that come with adapting alone to a new country and culture while being in – and aging out of – government care.
Upon transitioning out of care, Ali sought support from Aunt Leah’s and found a welcoming home in Lale House.
Lale House is more than a communal housing place to live and take shelter. It is designed to be a springboard and safe haven where young adults like Ali, receive individualized support to obtain the skills or training they need to become fully independent. This often involves helping to navigate the complex systems of post-secondary education and life skills training. As an extension to Lale House, participants can move into private supported suites when ready to live independently.
Having a stable home at Lale House allowed Ali to focus on his studies without the additional worry of food insecurity. Despite the obstacles faced, Ali has remained dedicated to his education and personal goals, laying a solid foundation for his future in Canada, as well as maintaining a positive and contagious uplifting attitude.
Ali recently completed his first year at Columbia College showing high academic performance in his Engineering program and has now accepted an offer from UBC for his second year. Ali was also selected to start a summer internship through the BC Federation of Youth in Care Networks, which is both an accomplishment to be proud of and shows his resilience through adversity. Beyond academics, Ali has shown kindness and respect in all interactions with Aunt Leah’s staff, other participants and his housemates.
Ali’s positive attitude, easygoing nature, and gratitude for support highlight his strength of character. It is clear that Ali embodies the spirit of the Rona Award and staff at Lale House were pleased to present him with this award.
Learn more about our Education program
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More Award Winner Stories:
Spring 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter, where we celebrate the incredible impact of your support.
The first flowers always feel like a cause for celebration and this spring Aunt Leah’s celebrates the impact of our advocacy for equitable opportunities for foster youth. Your steadfast support enables us to provide critical services and raise our voices for improved social service systems.
In this season’s E-News we’ll share stories of new and positive social policy changes that benefit foster youth, honor the contributions of our valued volunteers, recognize mothers who beat the odds, and map our next steps in creating and providing supportive housing in our community.
Aunt Leah’s Properties Update
In our winter edition, we told you about our plans to build a laneway house at the Aunt Leah’s House location in Burnaby. The new addition will provide housing for two moms and their babies. We are pleased to say that construction has begun, all permitting and permissions were accomplished in early spring and we are well into laying foundations. Completion and opening is predicted for this coming September or October.
Moms who beat the odds
Mother’s Day is almost here and Aunt Leah’s celebrates the mothers who come to our Thresholds houses when they face some of their life’s greatest challenges – homelessness and the risk of losing their children. Their strength, determination and courage in taking charge of their lives is unparalleled.
Thank you for supporting Aunt Leah’s to provide 3 homes for 18 moms and their children last year. Here is Chelsea’s story.
Chelsea was a pregnant 15-year-old in foster care with nowhere to go. That was when Aunt Leah’s, stepped in.
“I don’t think I could have raised my daughter on my own without that help,” says Chelsea. “Aunt Leah’s has been like a family to me. They taught me how to take care of my baby and myself.”
Without the stable housing and support that Aunt Leah’s House offered, Chelsea would have been at risk of losing her baby to the child welfare system.
With Aunt Leah’s support, Chelsea learned life skills and how to care for her baby. She also went back to school and graduated from South Burnaby High school and then an aesthetician program.
After establishing a career as an aesthetician and successfully caring for her two children, Chelsea found herself homeless and without a job at the beginning of the pandemic. “It was brutal. I was renovicted, and the salon was shut down due to Covid. I was couch-surfing on a friend’s couch with nowhere to go. An Aunt Leah’s participant reached out to me, and I contacted them. They were so helpful.”
Chelsea moved into the Aunt Leah’s Laneway house with her two children. They are now in school, and Chelsea is upgrading her skills at college with hopes of opening her own salon.
“A strong mom can conquer any mountain, with her children by her side.”
Michelle Obama, Becoming, 2018
Chelsea is the winner of Aunt Leah’s 2024 Leadership Award. Read more>>