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Starry background with a black box in the middle reading Evening of Elegance.

Evening of Elegance 2022

 


 

On April 30, Waterloo Region Family Network hosted its seventh annual Evening of Elegance and its first in-person event since 2019. This year, the event was held for the first time at St. George Banquet Hall in Waterloo. This new venue allowed us to host a sit-down meal in a spacious hall where our guests could feel comfortable joining us in person once again. The health and safety of our guests and their families were our main priorities while planning and executing this year’s event.

 

During the evening, guests had the chance to participate in a silent auction with a range of items and curated baskets from fantastic local businesses and generous community members. They also had an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a $1000 gift card for Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa or a Hot Air Balloon experience in Waterloo Region.

 

Our Self-Advocacy Liaison, Cristina Stanger, was our feature presenter and spoke about her work with WRFN and the impact her Self-Advocacy support has on individuals with exceptionalities. Her speech was heartfelt, full of honesty and humour. Overall, it was a testament to her journey as a woman with exceptionalities, the impact WRFN had early on in that journey, and how Cristina now uses her experiences to help support others whose shoes she’s been in.

 

We were fortunate to have Mike Farwell, host of The Mike Farwell Show, join us for the evening and be our energetic emcee. With his help, we were able to run a smooth and joyous evening! 

 

2022 Volunteer Award Recipients

 


 

Jennifer Lasenby-Lessard

 

This year, WRFN was so pleased to present Jennifer Lasenby-Lessard, WRFN Parent Mentor, with the Matthew MacGregor Award for volunteerism. Parent Mentors provide emotional support to, and share resources with, parents who are traveling similar journeys. Jen joined the WRFN Board in 2020 and later joined the Governance and Nominations Committee. She was also instrumental in overseeing one of the key action items within WRFN’s current Strategic Priorities – a parent/caregiver survey. Jen worked with a recently-graduated psychology student from the University of Guelph to complete and analyze the survey last fall. Hearing and listening to parent/caregiver voices is critical to the work of WRFN. The survey results will influence future supports and programming offered by WRFN and partner agencies in our community.

 

Jennifer Lasenby-Lessard stands in front of a red brick wall. Her light brown hair is pushed behind her shoulders. She wears a floral top with a dark blazer on top.

 

 

Christine Zaza

 

We are so lucky to have another incredible Parent Mentor, Christine Zaza, to honour with the Matthew Macgregor Award for Vounteerism this year. In 2019, Christine created and facilitated a program and information session for students with exceptional needs transitioning to Post-Secondary education, their parents, and educators. She continues to be passionate about sharing this information and, along with other working group members including Jen, is planning new information sessions. Along with her own experience, Christine has engaged representatives from local Post-Secondary institutions as part of presenting panels helping to prepare students, and their parents, for this significant life-stage transition. She had a lead role in the development of the Autism in High School website in 2017 Autism in High School – a web-based resource guide created to help students with autism and their families navigate the transitions and challenges of high school.

 

Christine has also shared her knowledge and experience as a speaker at an A New Chapter Group meeting and recently as a co-presenter to a Parent Network of over 100 parents at a local business on the topic “Walk with us: lived experiences with autism.” 

 

WRFN is truly grateful to Jen and Christine for their passion and commitment to helping exceptional families in our community thrive.

 

Christine Zaza stands in front of a leafy background. She wears glasses and has chin-length white hair. She wears a red shirt with a navy blazer on top.

Event Sponsors

 


 

 

 

This year’s event was generously sponsored by Heffner Toyota, Melloul-Blamey Construction, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Coupal Markou Commercial Real Estate Inc. Brokerage, David Schooley, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union, and RBC.

 

Heffner Toyoto logo

 

Coupal Markou logo                                                      Gowling WLG logo

 

Melloul Blamey Construction logo                                                            David the Negotiator logo  

 

YNCU logo                                   RBC logo

 

 

 

 


 

 

A reception desk, decorated with balloons and photos.

A greeting board beside a large floral arrangement

A large room of circular banquet tables with black table clothes.

A woman standing in a corner beside a decorated table.

   ​

A decorated table with an orange drink and a picture frame beside it 

A long table with a series of picture frames and auction items sitting on it.

Front of a conference room with 2 large projector screens.

Three chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

 

Five people sitting at a circular banquet table, all smiling at the camera.

A banquet hall full of people sitting at circular tables, talking with each other.

Five people at a circular banquet table, all smiling at the camera.

A well dressed couple seated at a circular banquet table smiling towards the camera.

 

A man standing at a podium giving a presentation in front of a group.

A women standing at a podium giving a speech.

A women standing at a podium giving a speech.

Six women standing together smiling.

 

A group of women standing together wearing face masks looking towards the camera.