Our Team
Samantha Bellefeuille
Founder
Samantha is a Family Partner in Research, a Behaviour Technician, a certified special needs yoga instructor and a Special Needs Instructor. Having a younger brother with CDKL5 and doing respite for over fourteen years, Samantha has a passion for working in the special needs field. She started working for Ottawa Respite at sixteen years old and has since worked at the Ottawa Catholic School Board, a variety of Respite Programs, coached Special Olympics for a decade, worked in residential group homes and worked at the City of Ottawa within the Inclusive Recreation Department. After working as an Inclusive Recreation Coordinator, Instructor and then Camp Director for over three years, she saw a lack of On-the-Go Day Programs in Ottawa. Samantha wanted to build a Not-for-Profit, On-the-Go Day Program for adults with exceptionalities....and Voilà!
Fostering Forever Friendships was born on September 9th, 2019.
Fostering Forever Friendships was born on September 9th, 2019.
Governing Board of Directors
Samantha Chair & Director Samantha has been working in the field since she was 16 years old. She started working for the Ottawa Respite Agency before taking on clients of her own and working in the school board and then residential group homes. She also accepted an Instructor for Special Needs position with the City of Ottawa, and later on, Coordinator and Camp Director for Inclusive Recreation. Samantha wanted to create a Day Program where clients learned daily living skills while"On-the-Go" such as learning public transportation while exploring the City. |
Dawn Treasurer &DIRECTOR Dawn has been married 32 years to her best friend and is a mother of four. Her youngest son has a genetic disorder called CDKL5. She is a Paralegal with the Government of Canada and has been working there for 17 years now. She has been a treasurer multiple times in the past and is looking forward to embarking on this new adventure. With her knowledge and experience, she is looking forward to being a part of the Fostering Forever Friendships Board of Directors. |
Kerrin DIRECTOR Kerrin has worked and volunteered with children for over 15 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology as well as a Bachelor of Education. She and her husband welcomed their own little girl into the world this past summer and are enjoying every second of being new parents. She is excited to join the board of directors at FFF and help the organization continue to grow. |
Rocco DIRECTOR Rocco and his wife have been married for 27 years and have 3 children. Their youngest son was born with multiple medical conditions, and has lifelong developmental and cognitive challenges but remains a happy and caring individual. Rocco was a co-founder and treasurer of the Little Troopers charitable foundation which provided financial assistance and medical equipment to over 100 local families with chronically ill and disabled children in the community. He currently works as a manager for the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. |
Emily SECRETARY &Director Emily completed her her Criminology and Women's Studies Degree at the University of Ottawa. She works as an Outreach Worker and has been working in the Social Services field for over three years now. Emily worked part-time with Inclusive Recreation at the City of Ottawa as a Program Leader with Special Needs adults. Emily is passionate about helping the Ottawa community and is excited to be a part of Fostering Forever Friendships. |
Office Staff
Heather
Office Admin
Heather has been married for 22 years and is Mom to a 21-year-old daughter with exceptionalities. She has worked at various careers including hair stylist, co-owning a salon for 5 years, Hallmark Canada and retail fashion, as well as a not for profit for the past 3 years. Heather has volunteered with numerous boards at CHEO including Family Forum, Pediatrics and Rehabilitation.
She is excited to join FFF as the office administrator with the opportunity to continue working with a not for profit organization.
She is excited to join FFF as the office administrator with the opportunity to continue working with a not for profit organization.
Program Staff
Harriet Day Program Coordinator Harriet has been working with people with exceptionalities since she was in high school. She graduated with an honours degree in psychology from Concordia University, where she also volunteered at a centre that provides art therapies to adults with exceptionalities. She has acted as a caregiver and support worker to clients with a wide range of needs and abilities, and plans to continue her education in the field of mental health. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and writing. Harriet started off as a casual worker with FFF before working as a Full-Time Program Support Worker for over a year. We are so thrilled to have Harriet continue her work with FFF as our Day Program Coordinator! |
Cassidy Volunteer Program LEad Cassidy discovered her love for working with people from various walks of life as a teen when she started volunteering with children and seniors. Since then, she has volunteered with organizations such as Options Bytown, Ottawa ACORN, The Ottawa Mission and LiveWorkPlay. She recently completed a diploma in Community and Justice services from Algonquin College and is passionate about creating communities where everyone can reach their fullest potential. In her spare time, Cassidy likes to get creative by cooking and doing crafts and is currently going through a major knitting phase. She stays grounded by practicing yoga and mindfulness, as well as going for long walks and the occasional run. Cassidy is also our Volunteer Lead for our FFF Volunteering Program! |
Abigail PART-TIME Abby is a graduate from the Firefighting program at Algonquin College and is working towards a future career in the fire service. She is very passionate about being active, learning new skills and helping people. She has been working with adults with exceptionalities for over four years, organizing activities in day programs and being a counselor at summer camps. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, being outside and playing sports. She is excited to join the Fostering Forever Friendships family! |
Ruby Part-Time Ruby graduated from the Developmental Services Worker program at Algonquin College in 2019. Since then she has worked with adults with exceptionalities in many different environments; including group homes, day programs and long term care facilities. Ruby enjoys spending time with friends and family whether it be outdoors exploring or inside playing games and watching a movie. She is very crafty and loves music and painting for fun too. Ruby is excited to be joining the FFF team and looks forward to connecting with everyone! |
Stevie Part-TIME Stevie came to Canada as an international student from New York. In New York, he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. Stevie worked in New York for a short time with Children's Aid. Stevie discovered his love of helping people but wanted to deal more with people directly rather than coordinating services for them. Stevie loves being outside and going camping with his friends during his free time. Stevie is an avid musical, sports, and movie lover. Stevie worked for 9 years at a major baseball stadium and at Madison Square Garden in food services. Stevie started as a placement student with FFF and has since graduated from the DSW program at Algonquin College. Stevie worked at summer camp and continues to work with us at Day Program! |
Adriana PART-TIME Adriana is a fourth year student in the Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics program at the University of Ottawa with over 8 years of experience working with children and adults with exceptionalities. She has volunteered with Special Olympics, summer camps and choirs for singers with exceptionalities, including at Fostering Forever Friendships. When she’s not in school, she enjoys playing and coaching soccer, and of course being a part of the FFF family. |
Margaret CAsual Margaret is a first year medical student after graduating from TMM (Translational and Molecular Medicine) in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about helping others and is fluently trilingual (Greek, French, English). Margaret is an accomplished pianist, having completed the final level of the Royal Conservatory of Music with First Class Honours. She is also a certified National Lifeguard, and in her spare time, Margaret enjoys ice hockey, field hockey, and ultimate frisbee. For the past couple of years, Margaret has been a volunteer in the Health and Wellness service at the University of Ottawa, where she supports students in their mental and physical health journey. Margaret first started at FFF as a volunteer and has been part of the staff team since 2020. She is very excited to continue to be a member of the FFF family! |
Stella Casual Stella is headed into her 2nd year at the University of Guelph as a Biochemistry major. She enjoyed being a part of the Best Buddies program throughout her 4 years in high school, leading baking activities and minute to win it challenges. After competitively dancing for most of her life, she loves to lead dance parties and does her best during karaoke! Stella loves all things science and the outdoors. She is looking forward to sharing her passions with others and going on many adventures! Stella is excited to continue to work with FFF! |
All Program Staff are fully certified in NVCI, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED!
Volunteers
Ben Ben is an elementary school gym teacher who has been volunteering with Fostering Forever Friendships for over two and a half years now! Ben worked for the Inclusive Recreation department with the City of Ottawa as a Program Leader for the Social night programs for adults with special needs as well as full-time as a Summer Camp Counsellor. We are very lucky to have Ben in our Fostering Forever Friendships family as a volunteer on outings, special days, overnights and more! |
Tomas Tomas is a fourth-year student at Carleton University for Media Production and Design who has been working with children, teens and adults with exceptionalities for the past six years. He has worked in the Best Buddies program, volunteered on many overnight trips, as well as a choir for singers with exceptionalities. Tomas has worked for the past six years working with teens and adults with special needs in programs and summer camps, including with the Inclusive Recreation department at the City of Ottawa. Tomas has worked two summers as our FFF Summer Camp Coordinator, 1.5 years as a Part-Time Program Support Staff throughout the school year and now continues as a volunteer on special outings, overnights and more! |
Marisa Marisa is a student at Colonel By Secondary School who enjoys helping people and having fun. She is very passionate about photography, fashion and giving back to the community. She has been around and worked with children and adults with exceptionalities since she was very young and is very excited to continue to work with the Fostering Forever Friendships family! 
Cole Cole is a third-year student at the University of Ottawa in electrical engineering and has been working with children and adults with special needs as a skate and swim instructor for four years. He began working with Best Buddies after lifeguarding one of their swimming events! He enjoys skiing, hockey, music and the outdoors. Cole is excited to volunteer with FFF! |
Chef Lil Lil has been teaching people how to simplify life in the kitchen for over 19 years with a fun and stress-free approach to cooking that anyone, at any age and ability can enjoy. She is passionate about helping friends and family make memories in the kitchen and gather together to cook, eat, talk, and connect! A volunteer with FFF since its beginnings, she has also volunteered with other programs for people with exceptionalities for about 7 years. |
Worm anyone? Friends in Sportfishing-fishing trip on the river in Manotick!
The volunteer staffing crew that facilitated our 2nd Annual End of Year Trip!
The volunteer staffing crew that facilitated the Montreal Road Trip April 2023!
The volunteer staffing crew that facilitated the all day trip to Toronto to watch the Raptors Game! We won, 119-118!
We have SNOW much fun at FFF! Matching Staff PJS for the win!
Christmas Photoshoot December 2022 ~Jade Rose Photography
Our 1st Annual Fun Fashion Fundraiser to raise money for Day Program!
Fostering Forever Friendships Hollywood Day at Summer Camp 2022!
Fostering Forever Friendships Volunteer Photo at our 1st End of Year Trip!
Staff running in the Mud Girl Race to raise money for breast cancer research!
Fostering Muddier Friendships! <3
Fostering Muddier Friendships! <3
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Founders
In September 2019, Fostering Forever Friendships was created as a Not-for-Profit
day program for adults with exceptionalities.
Upon Samantha meeting the Co-Founder, Kendra O'Brien, and working with each other with the City of Ottawa, they realized they shared in the same vision of an on-the-go day program where adults with exceptionalities would learn independence, enhance daily living skills and have fun!
They wanted to build something like summer camp; but all year round. Fostering Forever Friendships was created as an on-the-go Day Program where participants learn how to travel on Oc Transpo, work on daily living skills
and have FUN!
In May 2020, Kendra stepped down from Fostering Forever Friendships, to go back to school to become a paramedic. We wish her well in her endeavours!
day program for adults with exceptionalities.
Upon Samantha meeting the Co-Founder, Kendra O'Brien, and working with each other with the City of Ottawa, they realized they shared in the same vision of an on-the-go day program where adults with exceptionalities would learn independence, enhance daily living skills and have fun!
They wanted to build something like summer camp; but all year round. Fostering Forever Friendships was created as an on-the-go Day Program where participants learn how to travel on Oc Transpo, work on daily living skills
and have FUN!
In May 2020, Kendra stepped down from Fostering Forever Friendships, to go back to school to become a paramedic. We wish her well in her endeavours!
