The Leader, Eganville, Ontario - January 18, 2017

Postal Agreement # 40005333

Page A5

Slaughter family recognized for long support of Columbus House

By Terry Fleurie
Staff Writer
Pembroke -- A local family that
has been a longtime supporter of an
agency that assists at-risk youth and
young parents was recognized last
week for its contributions to helping
with services and programs in this
area.
The Slaughter family, owners of
Hyundai Pembroke, were recognized
by representatives of Columbus House
for both their personal and business
contributions since it was founded almost 30 years ago in 1989. In the past
10 years alone, Hyundai Pembroke
has donated $25,000 to a facility near
and dear to the hearts of the Slaughter
family.
Tina Belanger, executive director of
Columbus House, extended thanks to
the Slaughters at the Hyundai dealership on Petawawa Boulevard last
Wednesday.
We would not be able to continue
without the generosity and support
of businesses such as Hyundai, she
remarked. In their case, we are extremely fortunate to have such a large,
caring and community-minded family
like the Slaughters.
Family matriarch Janet Slaughter
has had a longtime association with
Columbus House dating back to its
founding when she was on staff.
I was hired as the first executive
director by the Knights of Columbus
in 1989 after our family moved back
from Fort MacMurray (Alberta),
she explained. I interviewed for the
position and Terry OBrien of Eganville was a consultant on the board at
that time.
He wanted to hire a social worker
and I was a teacher, so he wasnt going
to recommend hiring me, she added.
Mrs. Slaughter said two other board
members, Bob Baxter and Pat Harrington persuaded Mr. OBrien to hire
her on a six-month trial basis, adding
if he still felt she wasnt right for the
job after that period, she would happily step aside.
Terry and I had to go to Eganville
for something and I remember him
pulling the car over and telling me it
was only four months since they hired
me but they had made the right decision, she recalled.
She said the role appealed to her
because it initially involved assisting
at-risk youth in the community.
Both my husband (John) and I
started out in education, then into
business and I went into the legal
field, she said. But we both, as young
teachers, were excited getting into the
career because we thought theres a

The Slaughter family was recognized by Columbus House last week for its ongoing support of the area organization that assist at-risk youth and
young parents. On hand for the photo at Hyundai Pembroke were, from left, Budd Mathieson, parts and service Pembroke Mitsubishi, with Leo
MacKinnon, Shannon Slaughter, business manager at Hyundai Pembroke with son Charlie McKinnon, Marianne Minns, fundraising volunteer at
Columbus House, Ryan Slaughter, GM Pembroke Mitsubishi, Janet Slaughter, partner Hyundai Pembroke, John Slaughter, dealer/owner Hyundai
Pembroke, Tina Belanger, executive director Columbus House, Rebecca Slaughter, Roger Slaughter, Kateri Slaughter with daughter, Catalina
Mathieson, and Grif Slaughter, GM/Partner Hyundai Pembroke.
lot of kids that just dont get a break.
And its not because theyre not capable, its because theyre in families
that are unable to cope, she added.
Program Voluntary For Youth
Mrs. Slaughter said she loves the
Columbus House program because
all monies donated stay local. She
said the house has a reputation across
the province that other agencies try
to emulate.
Were very unique, Ms. Belanger
explained. Its a voluntary program
for the kids, so theyre not mandated
to be there.
Weve also expanded to include a
young parents support program and
we have licenced child care on-site,
she added.
She said all programs are educationbased and there are teachers from
both school boards at the young parent nights at both their Renfrew and
Pembroke locations.
So they complete their high school
education while their children are being looked after, she said. And we
do outreach to places like Eganville,
Killaloe, Cobden and Beachburg.
Columbus House was founded by a

group of educators and businessmen

and then the Knights of Columbus
jumped on board as the not-for-profit
element. Mrs. Slaughter remembers
it being tough to find a not-for-profit
group willing to assume the responsibility. She and board members attended different functions in the local
communities where they really had to
fight the I dont want that in my back
yard syndrome that existed.
People didnt want those at-risk
youth in their neighbourhoods, she
recalled.
The first location was a girls residence at the corner of Nelson and
William streets and then progressed to
a boys residence on River Road. She
echoed the programs were voluntary,
adding a lot of the youth in their early
teens came out of the foster care system because they werent functioning
well at 14 or 15 years of age.
And some parents would just come
and drop them off, she said.
Ms. Belanger said while the agency
accepted younger youth in the earlier
years, the current criteria is age 15
to 21.
We knew these children werent

planted here by some alien ship, they

were born here and if we want to

Columbus
House
executive
director Tina Belanger and Janet
Slaughter

work in an altruistic way, we should

be working in our own county to assist
young people be the best they can be.
She noted the program has continually grown since its inception, adding
Ms. Belanger is only the third executive director. She added some of the
staff have equally long periods of
time there.
So it really gives you a sense of
the passion and the feeling the whole
staff have for the whole program, the
vision, and the realization that these
kids dont need a hand-out, they need
a hand up to finish their education.
Some of the clients go on to postsecondary studies and she recalls often
getting letters, as she assumed Ms. Belanger does, thanking the program for
making such a difference in their lives.
Some tell us had they not gone
there, they dont know where they
would be, she said.
Rely On Fundraising
Columbus House is provincially
funded through the Ministry of Children and Youth but has really had no
increases in several years, so fundraising is incredibly important. Approximately 25 youth are supported

through the residential program each

year, Ms. Belanger said, adding the
young parents program, with the outreach, supports about 40 more. She
said some youth have stayed as long
as three years but the average stay is
for one full school term.
Once they buy into the program,
they stay a long time, she noted.
It isnt just the education needed,
its life skills, added Mrs. Slaughter.
I remember kids coming who didnt
know how to peel a potato, had never
cooked a meal, would eat soup right
out of a can.
Support Will Expand
Aside from her professional involvement with Columbus House, Mrs.
Slaughter and her family have been
longtime supporters and volunteers for
the organization. She said their financial donations over the last decade reflect their support of the program and
she said that support will only continue
in the future and likely expand.
With the Mitsubishi store opening
this year, weve already talked to Ryan
(son Ryan Slaughter) who will be
managing that in terms of choosing an
organization like Columbus House.
Mrs. Slaughter said the familys
involvement extends beyond the
donations and includes support of
the various fundraising functions
as well.
We buy tickets for all the events and
some of the silent auction items that
are there . . . I get some of the most
wonderful gifts when they come home
from that.
Her children have been involved as
a family since she was employed at
Columbus House and they fully understand why they are so supportive
of the agency.
The Slaughters had been partners
with her brother, Jim Lapointe at
Lapointe Chrysler, which included a
share of the Hyundai dealership and
they retained that share when they
retired from that business.
Then we took over Hyundai 100 per
cent 10 years ago and thats when we
said, as a family business Columbus
House would be our focus.
She is hopeful when others learn of
their ongoing support for the agency
it might inspire more people to do
likewise.
I would so love to see that because
in terms of value for dollar, we know
the future of Renfrew County is built
on the shoulders of its young people
coming up. And a healthy, productive,
contributing young person in society
is the best thing we can aim for as
a business community and a family
community.

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