Our Team

Lexy Campbell

Administrative Assistant / Independent Facilitator

Hello and welcome! I am happy that you stopped by to learn about our organization, the impact of our work and our team.

Carmen Sutherland

Carmen Cropped2

Community Relations

I’m Carmen Sutherland and I’m so excited to be a part of Bridges to Belonging as the Community Presenter.

I have a background in Rehabilitation Counselling and have been involved in disability communities in both the United States and Canada, and if you want to see me cry, ask me what these experiences meant to me! I love to help people with disabilities build meaningful relationships and have fun in their communities. I love the feeling of belonging I have in Waterloo region, and I want to help others feel the same in any way I can. Besides these topics, I love to talk about books, food and television.

Please get in touch if you would like to have me join your group to talk about Bridges to Belonging!

Karissa Bascombe

Independent Facilitator

Donnamarie Dunk, Former Executive Director (2018-23)

It is with an immense level of sadness and shock that we are releasing this message. On Thursday, July 20th, we suddenly lost the leader and backbone of our organization, Donnamarie Dunk.

Donnamarie lived, breathed and embodied all of the organization’s values. She walked hand in hand with the families we support, the staff and volunteers we employ, and other similar organizations in the Region and in the Province. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the organization sustained itself and to help as many individuals as she possibly could.

Donnamarie was a fearless leader, but more importantly, she was loved by many, including her fiancée, Greg and his family, as well as her five children, their spouses, and sixteen grandchildren.

Donnamarie’s obituary can be found here: https://fotheringham-mcdougall.com/book-of-
memories/5236244/Dunk-Donnamarie/index.php.

From an organizational standpoint, we will endeavour to continue to work in Donnamarie’s honour to ensure that her goals and wishes are met, and that we can continue to provide the community with a level of service that she would be proud of.

Sincerely,

Bridges to Belonging

Connect

"My family is so fortunate to have found such an organization as Bridges to Belonging. The individuals who are responsive to our daughter's needs are caring, selfless, conscientious and dedicated. They are committed to making sure our family member is included within the community. I can't thank them enough."Kathleen and Margaret, Bridges to Belonging family members

“Our independent facilitator has brought people into my daughter’s life that she would never have met in a traditional program and now there are special relationships developing which we could never have imagined before.”Roslyn Vincent-Haven, Bridges to Belonging family member

"Having a facilitator in our lives has made a world of difference. All of a sudden I don't have to do everything myself, I'm not the one always asking for help, and I'm discovering every day things my son can succeed at that he might not have had the opportunity to try before."Clare Hitchens, Bridges to Belonging family member

"I have been working with my Facilitator for a while. We have tried quite a few things and slowly I am starting to put some passion back into my life."Graham, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

"Cristin [my facilitator] is a special person in my life."Evie, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

"We are grateful to Cristin [Evie's facilitator] for how well she has connected with Evie. She brings so many gifts to her relationship with Evie and to our family. She sees possibilities and potential in Evie and her community that we have not identified. We have an ally in Cristin and that is a great feeling."Doug and Wendy, Bridges to Belonging family members

"We sincerely appreciated meeting you today, Chaitali. Your attitude towards our son and his future development, especially supporting him to develop a personalized healthy way of cooking meals and team work with other supporters such as his social worker, job facilitator, etc. is most appreciated. Chaitali, you seem to understand a wholistic approach for our son."Marcy, Bridges to Belonging family member

“As Steph would say, ‘I like small steps.’ In this way, Steph’s independent housing journey is a work in progress, taking time and thoughtful planning.”Barb Prysnuk, Bridges to Belonging family member

“Please pass along my heartfelt thank to Bridges to Belonging. It's been a year with his facilitator and we are starting to see huge break-throughs! I know that where we are at is a direct result of having Danielle there to rely on, to encourage and to hear him, that we've gotten to this place. I'm feeling full of gratitude to your organization, for Wendy suggesting it, and for Danielle for being there so solidly for both my son and I every week for the past year.”Bridges to Belonging family member

"Both Cristin and Laura have treated Cailyn more as a friend than as a client, continue to instill trust and confidence in her, and in doing so have touched our hearts deeply. After 30 years in the system, we have seen a lot of workers come and go and after awhile, you become a little weary and disillusioned and start to lose faith in the process. A big thank you to Cristin, Laura and Bridges to Belonging for all you do!"Cara and Cailyn, Bridges to Belonging family members

"Many thanks for starting "Bridges to Belonging", and for all the good work you do daily in the community. You are making change one person at a time with your solutions to problems in a way that literally changes lives."Nina De Shane-Gill, community supporter

"So far, this has been the best, most useful program that Christina has participated in. Christina has experienced the largest strides toward independence, confidence and acceptance toward independent living ever. Independent Facilitation has been the most crucial program that Christina has been a part of and the most helpful to me, as the caregiver. Thank you for everything so far. I honestly don’t know what our lives would be like without you in them anymore!"Cathy, Bridges to Belonging Family Member

News

Beats for Belonging 2024 Public Statement from Bridges to Belonging Denouncing Hate Crimes and Supporting the 2SLGBQTIA+ Community Building Bridges ~ Eradicating Barriers

Events

Beats for Belonging 2024 Bracelets for Belonging 2020 Bowling for Belonging FUNdRaising Event