By: Craig Boyle, Community Services Staff Member

“You are not the stereotype. You can be anything you want to be.” 

It’s a message I hope to instil in the young dads I work with every day at the Terra Centre—and one I hope they’ll pass down to their own children one day. But, to create a community where we’re all accepted, supported and thriving, it takes a community. 

At Terra, staff like myself support 10-15 young families at a time, working one-on-one with the child at the centre to build solid and trusting relationships and overcome barriers. 

Not all young parents have these opportunities, though. Many are isolated and struggling in our community, and there are waitlists to access Terra.

That’s why groups are so important. As an essential part of our Community Services, groups allow us to extend our reach and provide meaningful opportunities for young families to be involved in our community. 

Let’s create a community where all families feel included and valued—together. 

Me with some of our dads on a Dads’ Night outing. Helping them see they have equal value in the parenting equation is so rewarding.

Campaign for Community

Our goal is to be able to fully expand our group offerings and make them more accessible so more families can benefit. 

Why groups?
  • Groups are one of the best tools we have to engage parents. We know from experience young parents may be hesitant at first, so many choose to “try out” Terra through groups.
  • Groups help us serve more young families in need. Groups allow us to offer immediate support for parents on a waitlist to access Terra. 
  • Groups are effective. They enable us to teach families key life skills and increase the likelihood of raising healthy, resilient children. 

Help us realize our vision. Support our Campaign for Community to raise $50,000 by December 31.

Start changing lives today

Here are some examples of how your gift—at any amount—will help provide more young parents with opportunities to succeed:

Your generosity enables more teen parents to create brighter futures for themselves and their children.

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