Lansdowne volunteer Kaitlynn Sales presented with 2025 Brantford Youth Excellence Award

‘She's such a gentle, kind young lady; always giving’

BRANTFORD, ON – Kaitlynn Sales is an exemplary volunteer with Lansdowne Children’s Centre, and on May 7, her contributions were recognized by the Brantford Youth Council and the City of Brantford when she was named a recipient of a 2025 Brantford Youth Excellence Award.

Kaitlynn Sales, centre, was a regular participant in Lansdowne Children's Centre's Kids' Country Inn program until she aged out. Now, she is a regular volunteer to benefit the agency, which is why staff at KCI – including Marg Farrace, Program Supervisor of Respite Services, left, and KCI Supervisor Becky Haw nominated her for a 2025 Brantford Youth Excellence Award.

Lansdowne offers child development services, supports, and resources for the communication, developmental, and/or physical development needs of babies, children and teens up to 18. One of its programs is Kids’ Country Inn (KCI), a weekend respite specifically for medically fragile or technologically dependent children, some of whom are palliative. Marg Farrace, Program Supervisor of Respite Services, was one of the group of staff at KCI who nominated Sales.

Sales, who has cerebral palsy and a developmental delay, started attending KCI when she was a baby. Her favourite parts of KCI were swimming and the sensory room.

“I aged out, sadly,” she said. However, Sales didn’t want to cut ties with the place that she considered “a second home,” so she started volunteering there.

“It’s fun. I help the kids with crafts and baking,” she said. “We bake brownies and cupcakes.”

Farrace said it was a win-win situation.

“As much as she didn't want to let go of KCI, we're glad that she's up there, because we didn't want to let go of Katie, either. This is the best of both worlds.”

Kaitlynn Sales, centre, was a regular participant in Lansdowne Children's Centre's Kids' Country Inn program until she aged out. Now, she is a regular volunteer to benefit the agency, including recently, when she - along with KCI Supervisor Becky Haw, left, and KCI Nurse Maria Duvall - decorated Smile Cookies.

Sales recently brought her skills with desserts to the aid of Lansdowne again as a volunteer cookie decorator during the Smile Cookie campaign; Lansdowne and Brant Food For Thought were chosen as the recipient organizations for all of the restaurants in Brant.

Sales has also volunteered at events to benefit Lansdowne, including the inaugural Magic of Giving Holiday Market, and the Heroes Walk and Roll.

When she’s not busy volunteering or at school, Sales enjoys listening to a wide range of music, playing video games (a favourite is Call of Duty), creating art (she particularly enjoys painting and diamond art) and hanging out with her friends.  

Farrace said the staff at Lansdowne are “so proud of (Kaitlynn) and who she's become over the years. She's such a gentle, kind young lady; always giving. We just love her to bits.”

Kaitlynn Sales, far right, is a dedicated volunteer for Lansdowne Children’s Centre, including helping out at the annual Heroes Walk and Roll.

Farrace said when the opportunity to nominate someone for the award came up, Sales was immediately top of mind.

“We just think she’s great.”

Sales said she was totally surprised by the recognition.

She recalled that on the day she found out, “My dad just came home from work, and he said, ‘Did you get an email from Marg?’ I'm like, ‘No; what’s it about?’ and he sent it to me. And I was like, ‘Oh my God; I won!’”

In the nomination letter for Sales, her “outstanding commitment to promoting inclusion within her community” was highlighted.  

Part of that has included advocating for KCI.

When the program was being assessed as part of its annual licensing process with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Sales was happy to be interviewed by the ministry representative.

On a more personal level, when one of Sales’ friends and their mom was apprehensive about them attending KCI, she spoke about how much the program meant to her.

As Farrace noted, “It was on Katie’s words that mom decided to try KCI, and (her friend) has been coming ever since; it was Katie who sold her on KCI.”