Lorne, Executive Director Lorne has the ideal background for the responsibilities he carries out on behalf of the agency. He has more than 35 years experience as a lawyer and he has specialized in adoption law. One of Lorne’s daughters and three of his grandchildren have been grafted to the Welwood family tree through adoption.
Joan, Office Manager Joan is a front-line employee that Hope staff and clients rely on to maintain order and for document flow in our busy office. Before coming to Hope Services, she worked as secretary to the President of Trinity Western University. Joan’s heart for children goes beyond her work at our agency. She also serves on the board of an organization that supports an orphanage in the Philippines.
Ann, Director of Programs and Client Services Ann is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She has the overall responsibility for Hope’s adoption education. She also oversees the Domestic adoption program. With the support of her husband and a board of directors, Ann started Hope Services in 1986. She has since received an Adoption Activist Award from the North American Council on Adoptable Children for her pioneer work in open adoption. She experiences adoption as a birth mother, adoptive parent and grandmother.
Glenna, Intercountry Adoption Worker Glenna is a graduate of Trinity Western University and a longtime employee of Hope Services. She is a bubbling fountain of information in respect to countries with adoptable children. She has visited several foreign countries, most recently Thailand and Liberia. Two of Glenna’s children were adopted Internationally.
Judy, Registered Social Worker Judy works with couples and individuals throughout the adoption process. Her responsibilities also include supervision of contract social workers and as well, she is acting administrator at times when Lorne is away. Judy worked many years for the Ministry, specializing in adoption work. Judy’s seasoned experience brings great balance to our team at Hope.
MaryLou, Support Worker MaryLou’s responsibilities are diverse. In addition to assisting the birth parent social worker, she coordinates and conducts affinity groups. One is ‘Empty Arms’ for those experiencing infertility or for those who are ‘waiting’ for a child to be placed with them. MaryLou is a reunited birth parent and is also mother to three adult children, adopted as infants Internationally.
Christene, Registered Social Worker Christene primarily works with birth parents, among other responsibilities. She says she feels honoured and privileged to be working with the same agency that supported her through an unplanned pregnancy and adoption placement of her child several years ago.
Eve, Registered Social Worker Eve has recently joined our staff at Hope Services. She is sharing with Glenna in the role of assisting adoptive applicants as they navigate through the complexities of intercountry adoption. As an adoptive parent, Eve has experienced adoption both domestically and internationally.