Retirement Announcement - Laura Hanley

Dear friend of Community Living Guelph Wellington,

On behalf of the Board of Directors and Community Living Guelph Wellington, I am both appreciative and saddened to announce the retirement of our Executive Director, Laura Hanley.

Laura has been a very effective leader for Community Living Guelph Wellington.  She has helped shape our organization's practices with her expertise and skills. Laura's innovative thinking, collaborative leadership, and experience in the not-for-profit sector have helped shape our organization, and been integral to our success and growth in the past 5 years.

As an organization, she has guided us through overarching changes to our services. Her tenure began with the closure of the sheltered workshops and she has seen us through the COVID-19 pandemic thus far. Laura is a strong and respected advocate, who has called on our provincial leaders to bring increased priority to the services and supports that organizations likes ours provide. As well, she has taken opportunities to advocate strongly for the recognition of Direct Support Professionals. Laura’s approach to leadership has connected CLGW to a variety of community partners, both disability-driven and not, to help expand and extend the way we approach the services we provide. She has worked diligently to improve our relationships with all of our organization’s key stakeholders, including the people we support and their families.

Laura has fostered a positive and collaborative relationship between CUPE Local 4392 and CLGW. Her transparency as a leader has afforded opportunities to have open dialogue, to express concerns, and to work together to position CLGW as a leader, as well as deliver on its strategic plan. Laura is an understanding leader, who has leveraged her relationships and networks to advocate both with and alongside the union.

For all of this and so much more, we are grateful for Laura’s time and talent while leading CLGW.

Laura’s retirement is effective as of December 18, 2020.

With that, we are beginning our recruitment for our next Executive Director. The new Executive Director will see our organization through a number of exciting transitions, and will act as a catalyst in our pursuit of service excellence. The posting for the Executive Director’s position will be made available later this week, and will close on September 16, 2020.

With appreciation, we asked Laura to share a few words with all of you.

It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together.  I have been so fortunate to have a career in the non-profit sector, which I have loved. Reflecting back on my 5 years in the role of Executive Director here, my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude. I am grateful for the incredibly talented and committed staff, for the opportunity to assist this agency in moving forward to further enrich the lives of the people we support and to continue my own learning each and every day. I will miss everyone very much, but I am excited to start this next chapter of my life. I am excited to see what lies ahead for this amazing organization.

Thank you all.

When it is safe to do so, we will host a gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of Laura as our Executive Director. If you are interested in attending, or would like to send well-wishes, please share your contact information with our online RSVP. We will share more details, as they become available.

On behalf of Community Living Guelph Wellington, please join me in wishing Laura a happy and relaxing retirement. Thank you, again, for all that you have done with and for CLGW, through your dedication and guidance as a leader. We wish you all of the best in this next phase of your life.

Gerry Walsh
President, Board of Directors

URLs included in this document

Laura Hanley's Retirement Celebration RSVP: https://clgw.ca/retirement-gathering
Executive Director Recruitment Posting: link to be shared when available.