The Child Witness Centre

The Optimist Club of Stanley Park has been prooud to support the Child Witness Centre's efforts on behalf of vulnerable children. Members have helped by sponsoring the Centre's annual Pancake Lunch since 2024 and now enjoy participating at one of the Title Sponsor's tables. 

Group Photo from 2025 (L-R): Optimist Club members: Carole St. Amour, Tim Gray, Joe Watson, Rob Graham, Scott Gibson, Peter Kozak (hidden), Mark Kerr, Julie Kozak, Aldene Waud and Rick Waud. The other photo is of Rob Graham and the Child Witness Centre's Executive Director Robin Heald.

Child Witness Centre (Website)

Child Witness Centre (Facebook)

The Optimist Club of Stanley Park's Bear donation in 2025

Child Witness Centre Post (April 6, 2024): As a local non-profit serving child victims of crime, we rely heavily on the support of our community. The generosity of service clubs is key for our collective success, as has been true throughout our history. A wonderful example is the $10,000 we received from the Optimist Club of Stanley Park earlier this year! They heard about the launch of our ChildVictimsCantWait campaign, and were compelled to join in our mission to overcome our waitlist for kids and their families. #ThankYou.

Photo: Cheque presentation in 2024 (L-R): Child Witness Centre Executive Director Robin Heald and Optimist Club members: Peter Kozak, Chris Thorne, Rob Graham, Rick & Aldene Waud, Scott Gibson and President Mark Kerr.

For the past 28 years, the Child Witness Centre has held a pancake lunch as a fundraiser. The St. George Banquet Hall in Waterloo. has been the site for the last several years. In 2026 the event welcomed 360+ supporters and raised over $54,500. 

          Highlights from the 2026 Pancake Lunch

“Operating under the Optimist motto, ‘Friend of Youth’, members of The Optimist Club of Stanley Park are proud to support Child Witness Centre’s efforts on behalf of vulnerable children. Since being chartered in 1984, we’ve been actively involved in the community trying to ensure all local youth can live safely and enjoy all positive life experiences as they should.”

Club members also assist at the Centre's Youth Symposium. The photos below, from the event held in 2026 at Lazaridis Hall are (left) some of the parking attendants and, in the Symposium frame,  Optimist Club members Rob Grahaam and Scott Gibson with Christine Lewis, one of the Symposium's guest speakers.