New leader takes reins of Women's Centre of York Region

YorkRegion.com
June 30, 2014
By Chris Traber

There’s a changing of the guard at the Women’s Centre of York Region.

Succeeding stalwart executive director Kirsten Eastwood is Richmond Hill native Catherine Curtis-Madden, a seasoned and proven administrator in the non-profit service sector.

While Eastwood, credited with growing the centre’s programs, staff and services to women exponentially during her five plus year tenure, has resigned, she has remained close to ensure a smooth transition for Curtis-Madden, who officially took charge June 16.

The former and newly minted leader of the non-profit centre dedicated to supporting women across the region with financial literacy, employment and life skills training and counselling, discussed the past and speculated on the future.

Eastwood, a York Region human services planning board member and Newmarket Chamber of Commerce director, is proud of her centre term. When she assumed the job, she applied ample private and non-profit sector management experience to buoy the little upstart social service agency. From a $350,000 budget and one life skills and counseling program, the entrepreneurial dynamo leaves a respected and wait listed seven programs and 16-staff organization that applies a $1-million annual budget to serve 6,000 woman per year.

Modestly, she acknowledges the centre’s expanded office space and profile, the launch of several successful economic development programs, including an innovative business incubator program for low-income women entrepreneurs and micro finance program, and the creation of more than 200 effective community partnerships.

Last month, Eastwood unveiled the In Her Words campaign, with the goal of raising $150,000 before the end of the year to support centre programs. The focus of the campaign is telling the story of the centre’s impact in the words of clients.

Her efforts, supported by dedicated staff, enable the centre to deliver a continuum of supports, she said. In addition, systems are now in place enabling the centre to measure the social return on investment.

“We have programs that help lead women towards sustainability,” she said. “I guess you could say I created the ball and now Catherine is carrying it for a touchdown.”

For Curtis-Madden the immediate challenges are three-fold.

“Kirsten has done a great job and now I want to continue her legacy,” she said, adding another task is brand awareness - making people know the centre exists and the positive impact it has on women.

Creating sustainable funding, developing more partnerships and stewarding the centre’s five-year strategic plan is also on the to-do list.

Eastwood’s advice to her successor is heartfelt.

“Be open, listen, learn from the staff,” she said. “Our strategic plan is a good road map and now it’s her turn and time to bring great expectations to the organization.”

Curtis-Madden, formerly Kidney Cancer Canada and Lupus Canada’s executive director, is confident the centre will continue to be a role model agency.

“We serve the community and we need the community to be part our team,” she said. “You never know when you or someone you know will need the centre.”

Eastwood is mum about her future plans, hinting only that she’s exploring social change opportunities in York Region.

“I hope it won’t be as a competitor,” the new executive director said with a giggle.

“It might be as a collaborator,” Eastwood replied with a coy smile.

For information or to lend support, visit wcyr.ca and follow the centre in Twitter @womenscentreyr.