Agency Highlights

Recognizing Our Employees

Leadership Award - Cody Lamb

This year, the Leadership team created a new award called the Leadership Award.  The intent of this award is to acknowledge and celebrate an employee's commitment to the mission, vision and values of Lake Ridge Community Support Services. This award recognizes a staff member who demonstrates a commitment to professional growth and teamwork and provides leadership to their team that is impactful, effective, and motivational.

Cody Lamb was the first recipient of this award.  He upholds a high standard of integrity in the services he provides, approaches all new opportunities with a growth mindset, and is always willing to collaborate for better outcomes for all. 

Cody has shown continued enthusiasm and positivity throughout the year.  He is appreciative and excited about changes, often lends a perspective to small and big decisions, is accommodating and flexible, is often seen helping out where help is needed, and is an approachable person to work with.  Cody, at times, goes under the radar for the impacts he makes across teams and the Agency.  Thank you, Cody for the continued impact you have!

Congratulations Cody Lamb!

Culture and Spirit Award - Davida Trotta

The Culture and Spirit Award was created in 2018 to recognize staff who embody and consistently demonstrate the culture and spirit of Lake Ridge Community Support Services.  Some of the criteria for this award include:

• Reminds others of their strengths; is supportive and helpful to others

• Creates, promotes and participates in activities that foster the Lake Ridge culture

• Performs above and beyond normal expectations to benefit the community at Lake Ridge

Davida Trotta was the 2023 recipient of the Culture and Spirit Award. With her infinite enthusiasm and positivity, Davida was influential in maintaining positive morale at her location within the ETS program. She consistently lifts her teammate's spirits by reminding them of the important work they are doing, highlighting client 'wins,' and offering them additional support when needed. Davida makes work a fun place to be (and makes the classroom a fun place for the kids too!) and her zest for life is absolutely contagious! Everyone should have the chance to work with her. 

Davida’s responsibilities within the ETS program included most of the classroom's day-to-day activities. She also went above and beyond her job expectations in a variety of ways. For example, she trained a summer staff with no prior ABA experience, focusing on breaking down concepts and protocols into plain language.  She also worked to build the capacity of her other team members by mentoring them through the completion of novel tasks. 

Davida is always eager to share the knowledge she has accumulated over the years and does so in a way that ignites passion and confidence in her peers. Many of her team members met their goals this year with her support!!

All members of her team cited her as a primary contributing factor to their 10/10 job satisfaction rating during supervision meetings. She fosters a workplace environment that values all parties' contributions, celebrates each team member's strengths, and encourages a bit of silliness!

Congratulations Davida!

Jim Reaume Award - Karen Chartier

In December 2013, the Jim Reaume Award was introduced at Lake Ridge Community Support Services. This award recognizes an employee who meets one or all of the below requirements:

• The Candidate is committed to providing quality service, and this is recognized in their day-to-day interactions with their clients

• The Candidate purposefully seeks out opportunities for furthering their knowledge in the field of ABA

• The Candidate facilitates or participates in evaluation research

Karen Chartier started her journey at LRCSS in our CBT Program, with an interest and specialization in communication training. Over the years with Lake Ridge she has grown and has extensive clinical expertise and knowledge in Adult services and a commitment to supporting individuals who are hard to serve. Karen also has extensive experience building and maintaining relationships with community partners to better serve the needs in the Durham region.

Karen has a passion for expanding clinical services and sparking innovative and outside-the-box ideas. This is evidenced by her support of numerous grant applications, many of which successfully enhanced services at LRCSS and sustained staffing. She chairs and participates in various internal and external committees and working groups to support organizational initiatives as well as regional and provincial mandates.

Karen is enthusiastic about networking with other community agencies and professionals at the regional, provincial, and even international levels to provide outreach and educational opportunities. She is open to supporting her staff, maintains an open-door policy, and welcomes on-the-spot consultation/brainstorming to better serve our clients.  Karen can think outside the box to support clients in accessing services; when ABA is not the right fit, she has lots of knowledge of other community supports clients may be able to access.

Karen has also contributed to the body of literature and research, with publications in the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science and the Journal on Developmental Disabilities. She influenced and contributed to the professional development of a large team of Clinical Managers and Administrative Staff while balancing a large portfolio and supporting the many transitions and transformations the organization has experienced over the years. This support has been instrumental behind the scenes in making these transitions successful for the staff, clients, and community we serve.

Karen is valued for her unwavering support and guidance and for staying true to LRCSS’s mission & values. With over 30 years of dedicated service at LRCSS, her wisdom and leadership have been invaluable to this organization and are beyond measure; she will be greatly missed as she prepares, in the spring, for her next life chapter of retirement. 

Congratulations Karen!!

Length of Service Awards

Starting in 2013, each year Lake Ridge Community Support Services recognizes staff who have reached a significant milestone in their years of service with the Agency. LRCSS truly values all of its staff and is very proud to have such dedicated employees with high levels of experience and knowledge. The following staff were acknowledged this year for their years of service: