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The phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ isn’t just a familiar adage in Guysborough County. It’s a shared mission.
Since the early 2000s, the Guysborough Early Years Network has united healthcare and community organizations to support families across the region’s rural communities.
Public health nurse Sherry MacDonald has been there from the beginning. For more than 30 years Sherry has supported families in Guysborough. Her passion and dedication were on full display this fall as she helped organize the Early Years Expo – an event in which families connected with service providers and community members, building their own village as they navigate raising children.
“Supporting families in what I feel is the most important role of their life – raising their children – is such a privilege,” Sherry says.
This spring, Sherry and her network colleagues started planning the Early Years Expo to showcase the wide range of programs and services available to families in Guysborough County. The goal was to create a welcoming space in which parents could connect with service providers while their children enjoyed fun and engaging activities. The event took place on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Chedabucto Education Centre - Guysborough Academy.
Promotion for the expo was widespread, including social media, posters, radio, school notices and a feature in the Municipality of Guysborough newsletter sent to every household.
Sherry went a step further, personally inviting her early years clients. She was thrilled to see familiar faces and meet others in person for the first time, having supported them over the phone during the early days of their child’s life.
She was particularly happy to see one attendee: “She’s a newcomer to the area and came to the expo with her baby. It just warmed my heart, because she wouldn't be familiar with a lot of these services that we had. She knew about Public Health, but she didn't know everything else that our community offered,” says Sherry.
This mom represents many in Guysborough County and across the province who are looking for a sense of community, local services and supports. The expo brought people together in a space where they could find all of those things under one roof.
More than 20 local organizations participated in the expo, offering a variety of family-focused services. Sherry was there to represent Public Health Early Years, alongside her fellow public health nurses, Carolyn MacDonald, Lisa MacRae and Maria Cormier.
While adults explored local resources, children enjoyed activities, crafts and face painting. Families each received a $10 bag of fresh vegetables, door prizes were given out, and Square Roots was on hand to give fresh fruit to attendees.
Another important aspect of the event was to help people form social connections.
“Peer support is so important,” says Sherry. “That's why we refer people to Kids First Family Resource Centre all the time, because they have baby groups. It's the bonding and the peer support that's probably the most important for families.”
More than 100 parents, grandparents, and children attended the expo. The turnout exceeded expectations, leaving Sherry and her network colleagues both thrilled and inspired. They look forward to hosting future events, knowing how valuable these gatherings are in connecting families with services, and helping them build their village of support.
Photo of public health nurses Carolyn MacDonald, Lisa MacRae, Sherry MacDonald and Maria Cormier attending the Early Years Expo in Guysborough.