2020/2021 Annual Report
I am proud to present this year’s annual report highlighting the incredible work done by our teams. This was one of the most difficult years facing YESS and the young people we serve. This year, we have seen a drastic increase in the number and complexity of crises amongst the young people we serve. Within the first week of the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, YESS staff showed their true expertise and elegance during crisis. We had policies and procedures in place, we ensured that everyone who didn’t need to be onsite was able to work remotely, and we prioritized the health and safety of staff and youth, who are often highly immunocompromised and vulnerable. We invested heavily in leadership training, support, and coaching across the agency so that we had the tools and resiliency to handle these difficult times in a compassionate and regulated way, and we moved our training and counselling support online for virtual access. Most importantly, we came together and took care of each other. I saw this reflected in the larger community and amongst youth agencies as well. While the year brought fear, uncertainty, and crisis, I have never seen more collaboration, innovation, and self-awareness from my partners and colleagues and I, personally, relied heavily on this collaboration, as I am sure many of you did. This year taught me that we can do anything we put our minds to… if we do it together. Thank you, finally, to our donors and supporters, who continued to see our vision and believe in what we are trying to do. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Margo Long
President & CEO | Youth Empowerment and Support Services
2020/2021 Outcomes & Results
Some of the success stories
I disciplined myself so strongly because I wanted change. I am so resilient. I always have been, but I didn’t see it until I had gone through treatment... I worked so hard to build up all my supports to be where I am today.
Mariah, YESS YouthWhen I became sober, I felt like I became a completely different person. I was positive about life, talkative, met good friends, and felt like I was able to succeed and move on from pretty traumatic events in my past.
Alyssa, YESS Youth
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Donor Spotlight: Sheila McCarthy
Sheila and Grant McCarthy first started giving to YESS in 1999. With their commitment to supporting youth in our community, they wanted to ensure that their legacy of giving could…
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We Belong Circle: A Collaboration with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta and YESS
In fall 2021, YESS Programming Coordinator Shantell Martineau was inspired to create a girls’ empowerment group where participants could learn and support each other. “This idea for an empowerment group…
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Thank You to The Orange Door Winter 2021 Campaign!
In December 2021, The Home Depot Canada Foundation hosted their annual winter Orange Door Project Campaign in support of youth-focused charities across the country! The Home Depot Canada Foundation is…