As we come the end of 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress, hard work, and collaboration that has strengthened our APSGO community. This has been a year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful steps forward – both for our board and for our APSGO chapters across Ontario.
One of our major milestones was receiving a lottery licence in November, 2024 which opened the door to new fundraising opportunities and future plans. Since then, we have completed three 6/49 Bingo campaigns. Although we experienced a few growing pains, I am proud of how quickly we adapted, improved our processes, and introduced online fillable forms to make participation easier. Half the proceeds from these campaigns will support something we have all been looking forward to: connecting face-to-face at an in-person AGM in 2026.
This year also brought encouraging growth across our chapters. The newest Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound chapter offers strong support and a welcoming environment for families in the Georgian Bay, Lake Huron areas. Meanwhile, the amalgamation of the Mississauga and Golden Horseshoe chapters has resulted in higher membership, greater engagement, and additional experienced coaches to support parents in need.
More coaches mean stronger support. Our recent coach workshop welcomed a group of enthusiastic, new coaches to the APSGO coaching team. With more trained coaches, members can count on skilled, caring guidance at every step of their journey.
Group representatives continue to play an essential role. At bi-annual meetings, they bring fresh ideas, thoughtful perspectives, and creative approaches to the APSGO board. Their insight helps shape planning and helps us continue to meet the evolving needs of members.
None of these achievements would be possible without the hard, committed, and dedicated work of our APSGO board members. I am deeply grateful for their perseverance, their leadership, and their unwavering belief in the importance of the work we do at APSGO.
To our APSGO members, thank you for your willingness to show up, participate, share, learn, and support one another. This is what contributes to APSGO’s success.
As we look ahead to a new year, we do so with renewed purpose. We will continue building on our momentum – strengthening chapters, expanding engagement, welcoming new members, and ensuring that every parent who seeks support finds it at APSGO.
Thank you all for being an essential part of this journey. I wish you peace and joy this holiday season and look forward to all that we will accomplish – together – in the year ahead.
Jeannette Markle, President
APSGO Board of Directors