Dear PAVRO Members,

As another year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on just how much we have accomplished together — and feeling genuinely grateful for every one of you who makes this association what it is. PAVRO continues to be a community built on connection, expertise, and a deep commitment to the profession we all love, and 2025 has been a wonderful reminder of that.

Honouring Our Past President: Heather Johnson

There are no words adequate enough to express the gratitude I — and all of us — owe to our outgoing Past President, Heather Johnson. Heather's leadership has been nothing short of exceptional. Her steady guidance through our ongoing work with ONCA has been invaluable, and her dedication to keeping PAVRO compliant and well-positioned for the future has made a real difference for all of our members.

But perhaps Heather's most lasting contribution has been the CVA Study Groups she has led alongside Sammy Feilchenfeld from Volunteer Toronto. What began as a meaningful support for members pursuing their CVA designation has grown into something truly remarkable — attracting not only volunteer engagement professionals from across our province, but participants from across the globe. That kind of reach is a testament to the quality, warmth, and expertise that Heather brings to everything she does.

In 2025, the Study Groups supported the successful certification of four new CVAs: Henrietta DeWolfe, Olga Elizarova, Arthy Sathasivam, and Samah Abdel Aziz. Congratulations to each of them — and thank you, Heather, for helping to make that possible.

Heather, you will be truly missed on the Board. Your legacy lives on in everything you have helped build.

Welcome, Helena Finn-Vickers

I am pleased to welcome Helena Vickers, who has graciously volunteered to step in as our Interim Past President during this transition period. Helena's experience and dedication to PAVRO speak for themselves, and we are so grateful she was willing to raise her hand when we needed her. We look forward to benefiting from her leadership as we head into the year ahead.

Welcome, Shaista Shahid

A warm welcome also goes out to Shaista Shahid, who is joining our Board as our new Secretary. We are thrilled to have you with us, Shaista, and can't wait to see the contributions you'll bring to our team.

A Warm Welcome to Our Mid-Term Additions

We would also like to take a moment to recognize two Board members who joined us mid-term and have been hitting the ground running ever since. Amanda Maragos, our new Vice-President, and Sasha Howell, our new Director of Advocacy, both stepped into their roles partway through this term and have embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication. Getting up to speed mid-stride is no small feat, and we are truly grateful for the commitment they have already shown to our members. We look forward to the full impact of their contributions as we head into the September term — the best is yet to come!

A Year to Be Proud Of

Let me take a moment to share some of what your Board has been working on behind the scenes this year — because there is a lot to celebrate.

Two Upcoming Days of Learning Building on the momentum and spirit of National Volunteer Week, we are excited to announce that PAVRO will be hosting two one-day learning events this Fall under the theme Ignite Your Impact — one in Durham Region and one in Toronto. These events carry forward the energy and passion of NVW and promise to be inspiring days for our members. Stay tuned — more details will be coming soon!

Membership Survey and Strategic Priorities This year, our Director of Membership and Engagement, Amber Yakutchik, led a comprehensive Membership Survey that gave us rich insight into who our members are and what matters most to you. The results have shaped our strategic priorities for 2026–2028, and you can expect to see those priorities reflected in our work going forward — including a refreshed Resources section on our website and more opportunities for members to connect locally with peers across Ontario.

The Return of the SVOS We are thrilled to share that our State of Volunteer Ontario Survey (SVOS) will be returning this Fall! This important tool helps us understand the landscape of volunteer engagement across the province, and its return has been much anticipated. A special thank you to our Past President, Aleks Vasic, for her help in bringing the SVOS back.

AVA Liaison Network One of the highlights of this year has been the re-establishment of our AVA Liaison Network, which has successfully brought together Local Volunteer Associations (AVAs) from across Ontario. This network continues to be a meaningful vehicle for connection, support, and shared learning among our AVA partners, and we are proud of the work being done to help and guide them.

Website Redesign and Social Media Growth Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Director of Communications, Ashley Ferguson, our website has undergone a significant redesign, making it more accessible, user-friendly, and reflective of who we are as an association. Our social media presence has also grown meaningfully — with LinkedIn impressions climbing, our ePowerline newsletter performing strongly, and our digital community expanding. The refreshed look and feel of PAVRO's online presence is something we are very proud of.

Professional Development Webinars Our Director of Professional Development, Deb Wach, has continued to deliver outstanding professional development opportunities throughout the year. From exploring inclusivity and belonging to understanding power dynamics in volunteer-community relationships, this year's webinar series tackled topics that matter deeply to our members. Thank you, Deb, for curating such thoughtful and timely programming.

Thank You to Our Committee Volunteers

None of what we do would be possible without the dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy to our committees. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who served in 2025:

Certification Committee: Rachel Murphy, Tessa Hettrick

Communications Committee: Ruth Pentinga, Priya Kuncham

Mentorship Committee: Meaghan Innes, Kari Astles, Amanda Maragos, Lynda Laird

CVA Study Group – Winter Session: Ann Hall, Erin McLean, Jennifer Cuthbert, Kari Astles, Saskia Rinkoff, Shannon Hill, Sammy Feilchenfeld, and Heather Johnson

CVA Study Group – Summer Session: Amanda Maragos, Erin McLean, Jeff Abraham, Jennifer Cuthbert, Judy Dancause, Kari Astles, Samah Abdel Aziz, Tessa Hettrick, Sammy Feilchenfeld, and Heather Johnson

You are the heart of this association. Thank you.

A Special Thank You to Johanne Deschamps

No acknowledgment of this year would be complete without a heartfelt thank you to our Administrator, Johanne Deschamps. Johanne is truly the backbone of our day-to-day operations — quietly and graciously keeping everything running behind the scenes. From updating our website and posting events, to handling payments and responding to member inquiries, Johanne does so much more than any list could capture. Her reliability, warmth, and dedication make an enormous difference to our Board and to every member who reaches out. Johanne, we are so grateful to have you on our team.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next chapter, I am filled with optimism. We have a strong Board, an engaged membership, and a clear sense of direction. With our strategic priorities in hand and so many exciting initiatives on the horizon, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, connection, and impact.

Thank you for your continued trust, your membership, and your passion for this profession. I am honoured to serve as your President.

With gratitude,

Veronica Deally
President, PAVRO