Dear Kinbridge Community,
At Kinbridge, the safety and well-being of the children in our care are our highest priorities. When you entrust your children to our programs, we understand that you expect a safe and structured environment where campers are supervised with the utmost care.
On Monday, March 10, 2025, an incident occurred that has shaken the trust families place in our staff and organization. A child was mistakenly left unattended at March Break Camp. We recognize that this was an unacceptable oversight and want to be fully transparent about the steps we are taking to ensure the safety of all children in our care. While Kinbridge has clear policies and procedures in place, appropriate protocols were not followed in this instance. This was a serious oversight, and we recognize the impact it has on our families’ confidence in us. As a result, staffing changes have been implemented to enhance supervision and ensure the safety of all children.
At Kinbridge, we have always maintained clear policies and procedures that prioritize safety. However, we recognize that policies and training alone are not enough—they must be rigorously enforced and continuously improved. In response to recent events, we have taken decisive action to reinforce staff training and strengthen accountability measures. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring these enhanced safeguards are strictly followed across all programs and facilities to uphold the highest standards of safety and restore the trust of our families.
New Measures Implemented
- Quarterly scenario-based training to ensure all staff are fully prepared to handle safety incidents. While staff currently participate in quarterly training focused on program development, child safety, and policies and procedures, scenario-based training has not always been included. We believe this addition will help youth staff develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in high-pressure situations.
- On-site management presence at camp to oversee programming and reinforce safety protocols. While our program coordinator is currently on-site ensuring safety protocols are followed, we recognize the need for additional supervision to build trust with families and ensure staff are consistently adhering to all policies and procedures.
- Pinnies for all off-site participants to ensure easy identification. Appropriate head counting and transition procedures have also been reviewed daily to ensure staff are vigilant and aware.
- Enhanced training for frontline staff (Camp staff) on transparent and supportive communication with parents.
- Leaders in Training (LITs) participation in staff training, ensuring consistent safety knowledge. Currently, LITs (volunteers in our camp, ages 13 to 15) complete leadership training that focuses on program development, child safety, and policies and procedures. To promote a shared understanding of these policies, LITs participating in camps will now be included in scenario-based safety training alongside frontline staff.
- Continued Safety training to further support Kinbridge’s commitment to both child safety and youth development. Many of our staff and Leaders in Training are youth gaining valuable experience in leadership and responsibility. Supporting and mentoring young staff is a key part of our mission, and we are dedicated to providing the necessary training and supervision to maintain a safe environment for all participants.
We take this responsibility very seriously and remain committed to continuous learning and improvement through open communication. As parents and community members, we encourage you to reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback so we can address issues immediately and ensure the safety of all children in our care.
We deeply appreciate your trust in Kinbridge and remain dedicated to providing your children with a safe, enriching, and positive experience.
Sincerely,
Taylor Bulstrode & Zeri Zigeta
Co-Executive Directors
taylorb@kinbridge.ca | zeriz@kinbridge.ca