The Board of Directors of Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County announces the retirement of the organization’s Executive Director, Sheila Markle, effective June 30, 2022.  

Sheila’s career in child welfare has spanned 35 years in 5 child welfare organizations.  As Executive Director of F&CS since 2016 (and concurrently, CEO of Kindle Communities), Sheila has been a passionate advocate and leader in the child welfare sector. Sheila has continued to champion prevention and early intervention approaches and improvement of services to children, youth, and families in the communities in which she has worked, and in the sector at large.

Sheila has also remained fiercely dedicated to the implementation of equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression strategies and approaches within the organization and sector, knowing that this important work would lead to better outcomes for children and families.

“It is with mixed feelings that our Board makes this announcement. Sheila will definitely be missed at F&CS, “ says Heather Broddy, Board Chair. “During her career, Sheila has been an exemplary leader in many areas, and her commitment to families and our community is outstanding. While we are sad to be losing Sheila, her extensive years of service in child welfare and commitment to the community has earned her a well-deserved retirement. We are grateful for Sheila’s continued dedication to the children, youth and families of our community, and wish her all the best.”

The Board of Directors is currently undergoing a process for recruiting a new Executive Director. The Board, together with Sheila, is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.

“This is an amazing organization and the caring and compassionate staff in this organization work very hard to provide quality service to children, youth, and families in our community,” says Sheila Markle, something the Board is confident will continue under the leadership of a new Executive Director.

Broddy shares, “I have no doubts that F&CS’s strong and capable senior leadership team, and the support of our experienced and committed Board, will benefit the organization immensely during this transition, as we work toward welcoming a new Executive Director.”  

About Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County

Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County (F&CS) is a caring network of staff, volunteers, foster families, kin and adopting families that works respectively and collaboratively with children, youth and their families in Guelph and Wellington County to ensure their safety and well-being. The organization’s deep focus on prevention and early intervention approaches helps to ensure that vulnerable families get the help they need before bigger problems emerge, leading to stronger, healthier and more resilient children, youth, families and communities.

Media inquiries can be directed to Bethany Comeau, Director of Human Resources and Property at Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County (Bethany.Comeau@fcsgw.org, 519-824-2410 x. 4810).