By Ian Holmes

Tireless advocate for local children made her mark in Nanaimo

Mar 23, 2019 | 2:14 PM

NANAIMO — A pillar of strength supporting the renowned Nanaimo Child Development Centre is proud of what she accomplished after nearly two-decades with the non-profit agency.

Resource development manager Michelle Kocourek is retiring at the end of May after 17 years of going to bat for kids in need of assistance for their developmental and physical needs.

She relayed several emotional memories during a recent conversation with NanaimoNewsNOW, including a story about a young boy who walked upright for the first time thanks to a piece of equipment at the local CDC.

Kocourek and several others in the room burst into tears as they recalled the story.

“Because of the pure look of joy on his face when he realized what he was doing. You can’t put a paycheque on that. I tear up even just thinking about it because what we do changes lives.”

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Kocourek previously worked in the banking industry but found that line of work unfulfilling.

Getting motivated to help kids on a daily basis, however, was never a problem for Kocourek.

She said her late grandchild benefited immensely from the CDC, which only deepened her ties and belief in what the beloved Nanaimo institution stands for.

Kocourek said perhaps her proudest legacy was the creation of a family resource navigator position.

She said the in-house job serves as a community database offering caregivers a path forward during often stressful times.

“The idea was allowing therapists to provide services rather then help them (caregivers) navigate through the very complex system that it can be. What it’s turned out to be is more than what we could have hoped or imagined.”

Kocourek said the CDC recently learned the Nanaimo-made navigator position would be funded by the province. She said the government believed so greatly in the role’s impact that the concept was expanded all over B.C.

Most cash-strapped non-profits scratch and claw to provide the best service possible and the CDC is no different.

The local agency’s ability to fundraise flourished under Kocourek’s leadership.

Highly successful annual cash generators like the Silly Boat Regatta and Shaw TV telethon each bring in seven figures to help the CDC meet ever-expanding demand.

CDC executive director Dominic Rockall said they’ve grown to 70 employees and a $4.8 million annual budget.

He said while the province covers salaries and some overhead costs, many extra expenses arise from critical programming and equipment needs.

“With the fundraising Michelle’s done, it’s allowed us to have state-of-the-art equipment for the work that we do,” Rockall said.

An estimated 800 children are aided by 1,800 services provided annually by the CDC.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes