Annual Report 2024-2025
Accessible formats of the 2024/25 Annual Report are available upon request. Simply email info@fivecounties.on.ca
Message from our CEO and Board Chair
To Our Community,
It’s a golden era for Five Counties Children’s Centre, as we mark 50 years of assisting kids and youth (and their families) with physical, developmental and communication needs. From those early days when we opened our doors in Peterborough in 1975, a handful of employees supported 126 kids that first year. Today, Five Counties has grown exponentially, with our clinical staff serving 6,208 clients and their families across Peterborough County, Northumberland County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County this past year alone.
There are many milestone memories to celebrate and cherish, even as we continue to innovate and meet new challenges in the here and now. That was the case during 2024-2025, when Five Counties was again able to achieve so much.
If pictures are worth a thousand words, then images are much more powerful to convey our message and impact than simple text and prose ever could. That’s why you see photos dotted throughout this report, showing our staff in action. Included is our cover photo, showing a poignant moment when our Occupational Therapist, Jess, shares a smile with our client, Jude, during his treatment session.
Activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela once said, “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.”
We hope Five Counties measures up to his lofty words. The verdict becomes clearer, when looking at the evidence of the care, compassion and commitment that current and former Five Counties staff members have shown, and continue to share, with thousands of children, youth and their families over five decades. Our Five Counties family deserves no less!
Scott Pepin, CEO, Five Counties Children’s Centre
Julie Davis, Chair, Board of Directors, Five Counties Children’s Centre
Delivering Services. Delivering Results
1Total Visits
Our annual visits by clients/families in 2024-25 was near a record high.
2Client Referrals
Five Counties was able to drop wait times in 2024-25, even as referrals for services continue to climb.
3Wait Times
Wait times for services in 2024-25 continued to drop, declining by 15.3% over the past three years.
4Kids/Clients Served
In 2025-25, Five Counties served the highest number of annual clients in its 50-year history.
5Complexity of Kids' Needs
The kids/youth served by Five Counties continued to have varied and different levels of care needs.
6Kids/Clients by Age
Age range of the children/youth served by Five Counties in 2024-25.
7Kids/Clients Served by Community
Location of kids/clients served by Five Counties in 2024-25.
8Kids Receiving Rehab Services in Schools
Providing care to students continued to be the focus of our school-based rehabilitation services in 2024-25.
School-Based Services
School-Based Services
School-based rehabilitation services offer speech, physio and occupational therapies to students. While less visible than other Five Counties programs, it’s a big part of what we do every day!
All-o-ween Accessible Trick-or-Treating
All-o-ween
The first-ever All-o-ween accessible trick-or-treating event proved a hit with our clients and families. It was part of our efforts in 2024-25 to engage more with families, ensuring their experience at the Centre is the best one possible.
F-Words Framework
F-Words Framework
Five Counties is partnering with McMaster University’s CanChild research centre to implement the F-Words Framework across all its programs/services. The F-Words moves from a medical model of ‘fixing’ kids to a holistic, strength-based approach that takes into account all aspects of a child’s life.
Our Stories. Our Successes
Andrea's Story
Andrea's Story
Born with cerebral palsy, Andrea Dodsworth was not expected to survive. Now in her early 50s, Andrea has defied all expectations. And she has Five Counties to thank.
Mike's Story
Mike's Story
Mike Hannah hasn’t let a life-long movement disorder slow him down. In fact, he credits Five Counties for helping him to hit the ground running.
Jude's Story
Jude's Story
During birth, Jude suffered a brain injury that affected his development. His parents credit the success that Jude has achieved since then to the early intervention he received at Five Counties.
Your Support Matters
Record-Setting Support Helps More Kids
To Our Supporters, Donors and Volunteers:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We cannot say this enough for helping us achieve so much in 2024/25.
This year, Five Counties is proud to announce that an incredible $2,141,073 was raised to support life-changing treatment at the Centre for our kids. This record-setting fundraising total would not be possible without the overwhelming support of our community. We were also fortunate to involve numerous dedicated volunteers who contributed countless hours of their time and effort and helped make this year such a success.
These funds have been essential in employing more clinical staff, ensuring more than 500 children can access critical services without the wait. In addition, donations have supported special projects such as the renovation of our backyard treatment space in Northumberland, Family Engagement programs, and the acquisition of equipment for our Loan Program, which enables families to try out and borrow essential items at no cost. The funds have also facilitated the delivery of specific therapy programs such as speech and language support, occupational therapy services, and needed equipment.
Our children and their families depend on the Centre and our generous supporters to access the programs and services they need to build their abilities for life.
Your investment is truly transforming the lives of children in our community, helping them to reach their full potential. We extend our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support and commitment to making a difference for thousands of children right where you live. Thank you for being a part of their success!
Lisa, Lyn, Maddie, Kassie
and Linsey (currently on mat leave), Fund Development Team
Five Counties Marks its 50th Anniversary
From day one, the goal was to offer care and treatment for children, youth and their families close to home.
Sod-turning for the ‘new’ Five Counties in 1974
Imagine if you had a child who could not walk or talk, or had a developmental delay? Think of the challenges that would swirl in your mind, as you seek the care and supports your chlld needed.
Now consider if the nearest children’s treatment centre to support your family was an hour or two away.
Kids’ treatment in the 1990s.
We take for granted today that care for local children, youth and families who can get support at Five Counties. But this scenario didn’t exist in this region 50 years ago.
Providing care closer to home for kid sand their families was a main motivator for establishing Five Counties in Peterborough. In the early 1970s, Rotary Clubs from across the region joined together to champion the project. Rotarians, local families of children with disabilities, medical experts and municipal leaders convinced the provincial government to cover the bulk of construction costs.
Local Rotarians and residents raised the rest, and on Oct. 2, 1975, Five Counties opened its doors on Dutton Road. From the start, Five Counties provided support to children and families in Peterborough and the surrounding area. Over the decades, the Centre added sites in Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Minden/Haliburton to better serve kids and youth with physical, developmental and communication needs.
Care evolved too, as Centre staff went from mainly supporting kids with physical disabilities to assisting clients with more diverse and complex needs. While the type and scope of treatment has changed over 50 years, what hasn’t are efforts to continually innovate and offer life-changing treatment to children and families across the region.