Caledon Community Services AGM celebrates community support

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon Community Services' 2026 Annual General Meeting was spent not only celebrating the organization and their work over the past year, but also the people who made it happen.

Commencing shortly after the business of this year's AGM, CCS held a special recognition event for all the people who helped make their work possible over the past year.

Celebrating 55 years of serving the community, CCS CEO Geraldine Aguiar took the time to acknowledge everyone who helped them reach the milestone, including both the CCS team and the community.

To the team, she noted they “build the plane, and fly the plane,” recognizing the work of countless CCS members and volunteers.

Christina Early, who will stay on as Past Board Chair, also spoke to the Team at CCS following her step down.

“It's been seven-and-a-half years for me on the Board, and two as Board Chair, I think every Board member feels the same as me, how special it is to be surrounded by such a group of people,” she said.

Aguiar, recognizing the community, added, “If there's one thing that I've learned, it's that the future of a community is shaped by people who choose not to look away. That's why tonight is so important. It's our opportunity to pause, to reflect on the lives that you've touched, and celebrate the difference you've made.”

MPP for Dufferin-Caledon and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones attended the event with news that CCS has been successfully re-awarded $25,000 through the Seniors Community Grant Program. 

“It really speaks to the fact that our government and our ministries understand the value and importance of what you are doing,” said Jones.

“The difference CCS is making takes many different forms, but the true impact of CCS' 55 years in Caledon really is measured in lives changed,” Jones continued. “I'm proud to say our government is happy and proud to be part of that story.”

Not only were those there celebrating those who helped make an impact on the community, but those who feel that very impact themselves.

Speaking that evening was Caledon resident and advocate Grace Kennedy.

Kennedy has called Caledon Village home for the past 12 years and says that, from a young age, she has been surrounded by service, connection, and “the belief that community matters.”

She lives with spina bifida, a physical disability that she says has shaped how she moves through the world.

“I walk more slowly than others. Things that many people take for granted, like getting from one place to another, has always required more thought, more effort, and more planning, and because of that, my perspective of the world is a little bit different,” explained Kennedy.

Although continuously supported by her family when it came to getting around, she says she began to want more.

“More independence, more freedom, more ownership over your life. You start to ask yourself, what does adulthood look like for me? For me, that question felt unturned for a long time, and then I was introduced to the CCS transportation program,” said Kennedy.

“The CCS transportation program didn't just give me a ride. It gave me freedom. It gave me confidence. It gave me the ability to begin a new life that felt like my own.”

Because of the CCS Transportation program, Kennedy has been able to travel to work independently, attend social events, participate in local events, and become an active member of her own community.

“Not as someone on the sidelines, but as someone fully included, and it may sound simple to some, but for me, it was life-changing,” said Kennedy.

“I believe in supporting CCS, not just as someone who benefits from it, but as someone who wants to give back,” she said, adding, “This impact, it shouldn't stop with me.”

Thus began the recognition ceremony, where CCS recognized community champions, partners, and other local organizations that have supported them throughout the year. 

“Behind every story like Grace's are people who cared enough to say yes tonight,” said Aguiar.

This included local businesses, community groups, charities, individuals and more.

Caledon's first-ever mobile food pantry was launched in 2024 with support from Peel Region and Amazon through CCS.

“Our mobile food pantry is bringing hope right to people's doorstep, delivering food and essentials to hundreds of families across Caledon,” said CCS Incoming Board Chair Anne Marie Hayes.

Part of the team bringing the Mobile Food Pantry to life is Amazon Canada, which attended that evening and presented a $50,000 cheque to CCS in support of its Mobile Food Pantry.

Brooks Barnett, Head of Economic Development for Amazon Canada, spoke on the impact the initiative makes.

In 2024, he said Amazon Canada began a new program in how they facilitated community investments, and CCS was the first organization as part of their new program.

“There is a very important reason for that, and it is the incredible team at CCS,” said Barnett.

He said as someone who has “criss-crossed” the country numerous times, “the team here and the mission here is by far one of the best in the country.”

“The passion and commitment of the team and the impact that we see here in this community really is special to see,” he added.

For the third year, he says, Amazon Canada was happy to announce its support of CCS' Mobile Food Pantry once again.

Amazon Canada shares that since launching in 2024 with Amazon's support, the Mobile Food Pantry has supported more than 300 Caledon residents with food and essential deliveries, delivered more than 52,000 pounds of food and essentials to Caledon residents, and redirected more than 145,000 pounds of food and essentials from landfill to local families through the Mobile Food Pantry and CCS Food Bank. 

Incoming Board Chair Hayes wrapped up the recognition, speaking to the room.

“As we wrap up our celebration tonight, I want you to think back to some of the stories that you heard today, not as numbers but as people and lives,” said Hayes.

“Many more stories like this, this is what you make possible when you work with us, and support your community. For 55 years we've been honoured to be part of this community's story, but the truth is CCS has never written a story alone; you've written it, every gift, every volunteer hour, every partnership, every act of kindness has all had a line in the story.”

“Together they tell a remarkable story of community that refuses to leave anyone behind.”

“As we look ahead our story is still being written, Caledon is growing, needs are changing, but because of you, when a neighbour needs help, there will be someone there to answer that call,” said Aguiar.

“Somewhere in Caledon, because of you, someone is taking that next step towards a better tomorrow. Thank you for helping carry 55 years of our story of care into its next chapter.”