Last week, over a dozen community members and family of Joe Johns gathered at Eden Villa Retirement Home to recognize and honour Joe for his role in founding the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent over 65 years ago.
In attendance were Joe’s family, Centre staff members, past client Christian Picard, Mayor Randy Hope, and Councillor Darrin Canniff. Canniff is also a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and Joe’s grandson-in-law.
Having a daughter with cerebral palsy, Joe Johns quickly recognized the need for children’s rehabilitation services in Chatham-Kent. In 1948, Joe founded the Parents Association for Cerebral Palsied Children, and a year later the group’s name was changed to The Kent County Association for Cerebral Palsied Children. In 1950, a small building was rented to provide therapy for children.
Only 4 years later a new facility was built on Eugenie St. to accommodate the growing number of clients. In 1960 the name was changed to the Kent County Children’s Treatment Centre.
The Children’s Treatment Centre and Foundation of Chatham-Kent would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Joe Johns and his relentless hard work in bringing children’s rehabilitation therapy services to Chatham-Kent, allowing all children of all abilities to reach their full potential.
