Snack and Chat Social – June 25 – Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation at our Snack and Chat Social in Cobourg. Enjoy pizza and connect with other Five Counties and EarlyON parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Children are welcome to stay an play. This event is specifically designed for family members of children with developmental delays.
• When: Thursday, June 25, 4:30-6 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register using our online form or contact Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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• What: Is your child attending Kindergarten, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, or Gr. 3 in Fall 2026? Do they have a disability or exceptionality? Unsure what to expect? Let us help. Five Counties is organizing the Ready for School Event to:
  • Help families and kids gain knowledge and experience about attending school for the first time
  • Listen to a panel of parents share their families’ experiences transitioning to school
  • Ask questions of staff with Five Counties and other professionals who support students
  • Discover resources (like IEPs) within the school system to support your family
  • Learn about the 6F’s of Child Development and how they can help you introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting.
  • Learn ways to advocate for your child.
  • School bus will also be on site to help kids know what to expect riding to school
  • Takeaway resources, as well as drinks/snacks
  • Children are welcome, as there will be exciting supervised, play-based activities for them! While families participate in the informative part of the Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities.
• When and Where:
  • Saturday, June 6, 10 am to Noon, at Five Counties (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Event is free for families. Click here to register for the event. For more information, or if you require the registration form in an alternate format, contact our Client and Family Experience Lead Hayley Hodges (hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215)

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Snack and Chat Social – May 28 – Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation at our Snack and Chat Social in Cobourg. Enjoy pizza and connect with other Five Counties and EarlyON parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Children are welcome to stay an play. This event is specifically designed for family members of children with developmental delays.
• When: Thursday, May 28, 4:30-6 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register using our online form or contact Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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PETERBOROUGH, ON (May 6, 2026) – As one school year winds down, preparations for the next one are ramping up, especially for families whose children with disabilities or exceptionalities are starting class for the first time this fall.

For the third straight year, Five Counties Children’s Centre is organizing Ready for School events at its sites across the region. These include events taking place in Peterborough on May 30,  in Cobourg  on June 6, and in Lindsay on June 13. All sessions run from 10 am to Noon.  

Event organizer Hayley Hodges says the aim of the Ready for School event is to help children from JK to Grade 3 more easily transition to school, especially if they face greater challenges due to physical, developmental or communication needs. For parents and caregivers, attending a Ready for School event can help them learn more about what their child can expect at school, classroom supports available to them, how Five Counties services transition to support at school, and how they can better advocate on their child’s behalf.

“Ready for School can help families ease the worry and concern about their child starting or returning to school,” says Hodges, the Client and Family Engagement Lead at Five Counties. “The event can inform parents about how to best take advantage of Five Counties services as children transition to school. It also helps to bridge the knowledge gap about school supports and resources available to make the transition easier for everyone.”

The Ready for School event includes activities for young and old. For kids attending the event, there will be supervised, play-based activities in which to take part. “While adults take part in the information part of Ready for School event, children can explore and enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities at five interactive, supervised play stations,” Hodges adds.

Families are encouraged to pre-register for the Ready for School event of their choosing in Peterborough, Cobourg or Lindsay. Attendees will be able to:

• Hear from other parents whose kids with disabilities or exceptionalities have successfully made the transition to school.
• Ask questions of Five Counties clinicians and other professionals who support students.
• Learn about school-based resources available to assist new students.
• Access resources, including the 6F’s of Child Development, that can help introduce a child with unique needs to their new school setting.
• Get on board a school bus to see what the ride entails, while learning the important role played by school bus drivers to get students safely to class.
• Enjoy snacks, lunch and welcome packages, including tools, toys and tips.

According to Hodges, the parent panel is one of the most popular parts of the event. “Hearing from other parents and caregivers whose child with a disability or exceptionality has transitioned to school can be of real benefit,” she says. “Parents’ stories and experiences about what their fears were when their child started school, and how they addressed them, can bring a sense of community and the realization that your family is not the only one going through this.”

– end –

For media inquiries, contact:

Bill Eekhof, Communications Coordinator, Five Counties Children’s Centre,  1-888-779-9916, ext. 200.

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Snack and Chat Social – April 30 – Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation at our Snack and Chat Social in Cobourg. Enjoy pizza and connect with other Five Counties and EarlyON parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Children are welcome to stay an play. This event is specifically designed for family members of children with developmental delays.
• When: Thursday, April 30, 4:30-6 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register using our online form or contact Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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COBOURG, ON (March 30, 2026) – Five Counties Children’s Centre has once again been recognized at this year’s Northumberland Business Achievement Awards for its work to improve support for kids/clients and their families in the local community.

The Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce (NCCC) named Five Counties as the winner of its 2026 Health and Wellness Award, which recognizes a business or organization that provides excellence in its work supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing for its customers or clients.  This is the second straight year Five Counties has been honored by the NCCC, as the Centre won the Not-for-Profit of the Year Award last year at these awards.

“These back-to-back Business Achievement Awards are a testament to the incredible work our Five Counties staff do to continue innovating and providing evidence-based, life-changing treatment services for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication needs in Northumberland County,” says Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties. “This recognition shows the level of excellence that people have come to expect and know is being delivered by our staff in Northumberland, to not only improve services, but reduce wait times.”

In announcing Five Counties as winner of the 2026 Health and Wellness Award, the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce noted: “In the past year, Five Counties has delivered meaningful results for children and families across our region.” The chamber cited the “most notable achievement” being the creation and official opening of a fully accessible outdoor therapy and play space at the Five Counties site in Cobourg.

“Transforming an underused area into an inclusive environment… expands treatment options and enhances the client experience,” the chamber noted. “At the same time, (Five Counties) responded to record demand by increasing clinical capacity, strengthening recruitment and retention, and implementing innovative service models, resulting in a measurable reduction in wait times. Five Counties continues to improve access to care and deliver lasting impact for the families they serve.”

During the 2025 calendar year, Five Counties served 1,876 kids/clients and their families in Northumberland County. Services – including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech language-therapy – were provided by Five Counties staff from its Centre sites in Cobourg and Campbellford, in local schools and in the community.

To secure a nomination for the NCCC’s Business Achievement Awards, multiple members of the public must submit names of deserving organizations and businesses. An organization that is nominated must then answer key questions from the chamber about its work and role in the community. An independent panel of judges is then tasked by the chamber in reviewing nominations and selecting an award winner in each category. Five Counties is thankful for such strong support and recognition of the work it undertakes in the Northumberland area.

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Snack and Chat Social – March 26 – Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation at our Snack and Chat Social in Cobourg. Enjoy pizza and connect with other Five Counties and EarlyON parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Children are welcome to stay an play. This event is specifically designed for family members of children with developmental delays.
• When: Thursday, Feb. 26, 5-6:30 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register using our online form or contact Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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Snack and Chat Social – Feb. 26 – Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation at our Snack and Chat Social in Cobourg. Enjoy pizza and connect with other Five Counties and EarlyON parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Children are welcome to stay an play. This event is specifically designed for family members of children with developmental delays.
• When: Thursday, Feb. 26, 5-6:30 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St., Unit 2) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register using our online form or contact Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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Family Meet & Greet Social -Nov. 12 in Cobourg

• What: Join in the conversation with other Five Counties families. Come out to our Family Meet & Greet social and connect with other parents, caregivers, guardians and grandparents. Come in-person or join virtually. Enjoy coffee and share your experiences and ideas with our Client and Family Experience Lead Hayley Hodges. Child care is available.
• When: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 5-6:30 pm
• Where: Five Counties Children’s Centre (800 Division St.) in Cobourg
• To Join: Register by contacting Hayley at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca

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• What: We’re excited to be hosting our second annual All-o-ween event for Five Counties kids and their families (including siblings). This accessible, inclusive and sensory-friendly trick-or-treating event is for kids of all ages and abilities. Dress up in a costume, wear orange and black, or come as you are. Enjoy treats. stories and more!
• When and Where – Thanks to everyone who signed up. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED as events in Peterborough (Oct. 28), Cobourg (Oct. 29), and Lindsay (Oct. 30) are full.
• More Details: Contact our Client and Family Engagement Lead Hayley Hodges at hhodges@fivecounties.on.ca or 1-888-779-9916, ext. 215, for more information.

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