History of Easter Seals New Brunswick
The Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled (CRCD) New Brunswick Branch was incorporated on December 23, 1966, with the first organized meeting of the directors held on June 13, 1967. The election of officers included Dr. P.G. Thompson, President; Frank Gibson, Vice-President; Dorothy Cummings, Secretary; and C.N.R. Scott, Executive Director.
Prior to CRCD's arrival, the New Brunswick Society for Crippled Children and the New Brunswick Foundation for Poliomyelitis and Rehabilitation had provided services for many years to persons with disabilities upon referral. However, at the age of 16, clients of the Crippled Children's Society no longer had access to rehabilitation services, as they no longer fell into the target population. This break in service made the need for organizational partnerships obvious.
In the early fifties, Dr. Mayers - the Director of Maternal and Child Health - spearheaded a movement to combine voluntary efforts towards rehabilitation services. In 1955, Dr. Mayers began to campaign to get a co-ordinated group organized. A year later the doctor's work paid off with the launch of the New Brunswick Co-ordinating Council for the Handicapped. The new group represented 57 member organizations from throughout the province. It was largely financed by grants from the Crippled Children's Society and the Poliomyelitis Foundation.
Mrs. Dorothy Marshall, Executive Director, did the casework from the Co-ordinating Council's first headquarters in St. John. She investigated cases referred to her and arranged for services to clients either directly or through other agencies. In 1960, the office moved to Fredericton, Marshall resigned and a new Executive Director was appointed. In 1962, the comparative national Crippled Children's Society and the Poliomyelitis Foundation joined to form the national Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled. CRCD national went through an organizational change in 1995, which resulted in a name change. The agency is now known as the Easter Seals March of Dimes National Council. In 1966, the New Brunswick branch of CRCD was formed and as a result amalgamated New Brunswick's Crippled Children's Society and the Poliomyelitis Foundation. Since that time, the CRCD NB has been providing numerous rehabilitation services to people with disabilities. Its mission is to be the principal New Brunswick agency working in partnership with people with disabilities so that they may attain independence and the equality of opportunity available in their communities.
In 1922 ten Rotary Clubs formed the initial Easter Seal Society. The first Canadian Easter Seal was introduced in Alberta in 1945 followed by the first Canadian national Easter Seal in 1949. The seal is a symbol of support for children with disabilities. The seal is used at Easter time as the Easter theme coincides with the rehabilitation of children. Much like the Easter Story, rehabilitation of children with disabilities results in a physical, mental and spiritual rebirth. The enfranchised members have continued to work at the grass-roots level across the country to elicit the on-going participation of millions of individuals to help make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities.
On October 24, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled, New Brunswick Branch Inc. changed the agency's business name to New Brunswick Easter Seal March of Dimes (CRCD). This action was taken in order to strengthen the link between the organization's fund raising initiatives and services.
Currently known as Easter Seals New Brunswick, the agency offers the Personal Services Program, the Equipment Assessment Loans Bank Program, the Rehabilitation Technology Program, the Polio Survivor's Program, the Human Resource Development [HRD] Program, an equipment repair and maintenance service, and a toy and information library. CRCD also operates Camp Rotary, which is owned by the Rotary Club of Fredericton New Brunswick. The site located along Grand Lake allows persons with disabilities to enjoy a barrier free camp experience each summer. All New Brunswick Easter Seals programs and services are offered provincially in both official languages.
In addition to the New Brunswick Easter Seals programs, many of the staff members are strong, active advocates for disability and rehabilitation related issues. New Brunswick Easter Seals relies on fund raising campaigns and the support of the people of New Brunswick for continued success. Only through this support will the present services, along with future ones, be offered to people with disabilities.