Congratulations to
2018 John Kjelson Memorial Award Recipient
Adina Jeanes

You may recognize Adina Jeanes even if you’ve never had a reason to interact with her before. She is the smiling face sitting behind the desk at the Child Care Resource and Referral-Early Years Centre at the John Tod Centre Y, greeting the children and families that come in to use the CCRR-EYC facilities.

Adina is an Early Learning and Care Administrative Consultant for the Y’s CCRR program. Every morning you can hear Adina welcoming young families to the Y with a big smile on her face. Her strong relationship-building skills ensure that “she supports all families equally,” writes one co-worker. “Their concerns, questions or needs are given her utmost attention and priority, each family knowing that they really matter.” And because of this, the CCRR-EYC clients always look forward to seeing her. “They know that she is someone that they can trust,” writes another co-worker, “and the kids are always excited to receive their stamp from Adina when they are leaving the building at the end of their visit.”

Adina has shown repeatedly that she can be counted on in any situation. Her care and empathy for others is genuine and never wavers, and she is the first to jump in to support another staff or colleague who needs a hand. Staff often seek out her honest and constructive feedback, and it is clear when talking to her nominators that her positive attitude and sense of humour have endeared her to her colleagues, coworkers, and the families that she sees every day. All of them say that It is a pleasure to work with her, and that they are grateful for her genuine spirit.

In addition to her work with the CCRR, Adina also sits on several committees in the community, such as the Teddy Bear Picnic, Literacy Day and International Child’s Day as she is committed to making the community a better place. She is passionate about improving the lives of children and families, as is evident in everything that she does. Adina shows the Y core values of caring, respect, honesty, responsibility and inclusiveness, in her daily interactions, whether it is with co-workers, caregivers, children or families, and it is for all these reasons, and many more, that we are so pleased to present her with the 2018 John Kjelson Memorial Service Award.