Reflecting on Our 2026 Annual General Meeting
Our 2026 Annual General Meeting brought together community partners, supporters, volunteers and friends to reflect on a year of local generosity and the work still ahead for Kawartha Community Foundation.
Brittany Taylor opened the gathering with a land acknowledgement. We were also pleased to welcome City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie for opening remarks. Board Chair Mark Knoester and then Executive Director Eric Smeaton shared reflections on the Foundation’s progress and its vision for the future.
The meeting gave us a chance to look at what community partnerships made possible this year. Our first Kawartha Lakes Vital Signs report brought local data and community voices together to help identify priorities for action. The inaugural Social Sustainability Fund invested approximately $56,000 in nine projects supporting food security, housing stability, youth development and belonging. Through Together for Justice, the Foundation also supported local organizations working to reduce barriers to justice across Kawartha Lakes.
We were honoured to welcome Sharon Avery, President and CEO of Toronto Foundation, as a guest speaker. Kristal Jones-Craighead, Community Integrated Care Hub Director, joined us for the community impact portion of the programme, bringing attention to the people and partnerships behind this work.
A meaningful part of the meeting was a tribute to Glen Wright. We remembered his generosity, community leadership and lasting commitment to giving back. The Glen Wright Community Foundation Champion Award honours that legacy by recognizing dedication to inspiring generosity and strengthening connections across Kawartha Lakes.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the donors, fundholders, volunteers and community organizations who make the Foundation’s work possible. The AGM was an opportunity to celebrate what we have accomplished together and to carry that commitment into the year ahead.
