Home

Initiatives

Making A Difference

Prizes

Thank You's

Home

There are no coincidences in life. People are brought together for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. As an Attendance Counselor with the Grand Erie District School Board, my primary role is the enforcement of compulsory attendance. Unfortunately, poor attendance or non-attendance at school is merely a symptom of another problem.

These students were facing hardships that interfered with their success in school. These families were often dealing with a broad range of challenges including addiction, abuse, poverty and the breakdown of relationships. There was a need to develop a program to encourage these young people to be in school despite their circumstances and hardships. The goal became assisting a child to smile when they truly may have very little in life to smile about.

An Attendance, Incentive & Mentorship (A.I.M.) program was developed to encourage students to attend school and arrive on time. Incentives were donated by local businesses, citizens, family and friends. Wicks n’ Wax, a local candle factory owned by Cheryl & Bill Antoski became staunch supporters of the A.I.M. program and developed a new product called the Wishing Well Candle. A partnership was born, 5% of all proceeds would be donated to assist with making a difference in a child’s life and a new name needed to be developed.

During the summer of 2000, in sacred space in Northern Ontario, Zack DeBruyn provided the name that is now known as Light A Smile. In the eyes of an 8 year old boy it represented the significance of lighting a candle to make a wish and using my signature "smile" to get the results of children being happy. As soon as the words were spoken it resonated and Zack will always be acknowledged as the name provider of this non-profit charity organization.

Light A Smile programs have expanded to include A.I.M., Wishing U Well and Christmas Angels. The incentive program is running in 6 local elementary schools including Major Ballachey, King George, F.C. Bodley, Woodman-Cainsville, Echo Place and Princess Elizabeth. Every month more than 400 students are rewarded with a prize for excellent attendance at a monthly assembly.

As I stand at the front of the school gym to acknowledge those students who have earned prizes, the children are not thinking about their abusive parent, the lack of food at home or if dad will come home drunk that night. Instead, that child will smile, and that is what making a difference in someone’s life is all about. One child at a time.

Contact information