Lansdowne LINK Community News Blog

Along with offering free, high-quality programs for children ages six and younger to help them develop skills around play, socialization, early learning, and more, EarlyON Child and Family Centres also help families build community with one another – and that’s especially the case with the Accessible EarlyON program. “All children aged six years and younger are welcome at all EarlyON programs." "We have the Accessible EarlyON in particular so that children in families who are

There’s a lot to do at the Accessible EarlyON program that runs on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the TB Costain SC Johnson Community Centre, 16 Morrell Street, Brantford, FLEXIBLE ENVIRONMENT We learn and explore through art, music, physical movement and sensory play. Co-facilitators Claire Soden, Development Consultant with Lansdowne Children’s Centre, and Ellie Murphy, Child Development Worker with Child and Family Services of Grand Erie, adapt the play and ac

12-yr old Mason Bowen is taking his Lansdowne ambassador role to next-level confidence and energy in support of Lansdowne Children's Centre's annual Heroes Walk and Roll fundraiser.

Lansdowne Children’s Centre families recently had the opportunity to visit Apple Hill Lavender Farm in Norfolk County. Families were able to enjoy a self-guided tour of the lavender fields and some of the apple trees, as well as a story time with farmer Jennifer Schooley reading the Robert Munsch classic, Mortimer, and Lansdowne Communications Coordinator and children’s author Tamara Botting reading one of her books, Big Bother Brother. Lauren O’Neill, Lansdowne’s Family Enga

There are pieces of equipment for clients to practice occupational therapy skills, such as tying shoelaces, zipping zippers and buttoning buttons, as well as tabletop scissors. There are toys, including ones for infants and building block sets for older kids. There are simple musical instruments, balancing equipment, a wide variety of books for children and adults on a range of topics, DVDs, puzzles, board games and more.

Summer's not done yet, which means there’s still time to have fun and make memories! Here are some suggestions of things your family could try before school’s back in session. Do one, do a few, do them all, add your own ideas! Do a surprise act of kindness for someone special in your life! Make them a card, bake them cookies, draw them a cool picture – whatever will brighten their day. Make a piece of art inspired by your pet (or favourite animal)! You can draw it on paper,

A gesture, a point, a look—these early attempts to connect are powerful stepping stones toward language. For children with additional needs, however, expressing wants, needs, and interests can be more challenging. That’s where sign language—especially simple, early signs—can make a meaningful difference.

Sesame Street’s first AAC board features core vocabulary and beloved characters. A valuable resource for early learning and developing communication abilities.

Lansdowne Children’s Centre is excited to invite families to participate in the Scholastic Book Club—an engaging and accessible way to bring the joy of reading into your home while also supporting important programs and services for local infants, children and youth in our community.

For the 42nd year in a row, the Rotary Club of Brantford brought hope and community spirit with its annual Rotary Classic Run. The event was held on June 7, starting and ending on the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind grounds. As always, the Lansdowne Cruisers team was there to support the fundraising efforts. Lansdowne Children’s Centre CEO and Rotarian Rita-Marie Hadley congratulated everyone who was part of the Lansdowne team for their efforts. “You made the communi

Lauren O’Neill, Lansdowne Children’s Centre’s interim Family Engagement Coordinator, wants client families to know she’s here for them. “I'm really passionate about bringing back the programs that had been serving them and listening to what they need for their well-being within my capacity here for programming,” Lauren said. In the past, events like Caregiver Craft Night and Coffee and Chat were a way for families of babies, kids and teens receiving services through Lansdowne

Mariam is one of the Support Workers at Lansdowne Children’s Centre, working with child and youth clients and helping them develop their communication and social skills. She was inspired to take on the role because of her “natural love for kids and helping people. I’m generally drawn to roles that help people feel supported, cared for, and understood.” Working with children and youth who have communication, physical and/ or developmental differences “has shown me the power of

The items in each Parker’s Promise kit are relatively common: a fidget, a lip chap, a tea bag, a pen and journal, and a card that explains how a person can use these things in a grounding exercise. This was done very intentionally by creator Shalyn Wilson, who wanted to make sure the items in the kit could be easily and relatively inexpensively replenished for continual use. “You can recreate that grounding exercise over and over and over again,” she said. Possibly the most i

(L to R), Representatives of Montgomery Sisam Architects, Karine Quigley, Shannon Wiley, Wesley Gross; from Lansdowne Children's Centre, Rosemarie Press, Rita-Marie Hadley, and (far right) Tamie Aubin; and Miller McLeod and Rami Bouz of Colliers Project Leaders. Lansdowne Children’s Centre for child development is pleased to announce the selection of Montgomery Sisam Architects for its new purpose-built facility in Brantford, marking a significant and celebratory milestone in

Powered by passionate community leaders and dedicated volunteers, Lansdowne Children’s Centre and Brant Food For Thought are celebrating a new Smile Cookie record for fundraising in Brantford. Each organization has received $82,501.52 at the conclusion of the Tim Hortons 2026 Smile Cookie campaign, eclipsing the previous achievement of $79,415.54 each organization received through the 2025 campaign. The money was raised through the sale of Smile Cookies and associated mercha

Challenger Baseball with Jays Care Foundation bringing adaptive sport to Brant County (Paris Youth Softball)

Huge thanks to our friends at the Brantford branch of Therapeutic Paws of Canada, who came out for a pop-up visit at the Brantford Lansdowne Children’s Centre site with some of our clients and their families on April 23. It was a wonderful time of fun, laughter, and lots of 'fuzz therapy'! Therapeutic Paws of Canada is always looking for new dogs and cats to add to their roster; if you’re interested in volunteering, visit https://tpoc.ca/ for more information.

A lot of public advocacy work comes down to building personal relationships in the community, noted Lansdowne Children’s Centre board member Rick Rozak. Hailing from Port Dover, Rozak joined the board in 2018. “The majority of my career, I worked with young people in the youth justice system,” he said. When he started out, he would have a caseload of two or three youths at a time, and a big part of his job was mentoring them through their plan of care, which he would also hel

Justin Wareham is Lansdowne Children’s Centre’s new treasurer on its board of directors. “It’s my first time with any kind of role like this; it’s exciting… scary,” he added with a laugh. Wareham lives in Delhi and works at Millards Chartered Professional Accountants ’ Brantford location as a CPA and an associate of the business. “Most of what I do is auditing not-for-profit organizations. I have a really strong background in that, and I think that'll really translate well in

We're looking for your best suggestions for how to include Tim Hortons Smile Cookies at breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, in support of local children and youth programs provided by Brant Food For Thought and Lansdowne Children's Centre.