Executive Director Patty Sproule Retiring
It is with mixed emotions that the Synergy Youth and Community Development Society (Synergy) Board of Directors announces the impending retirement of our Executive Director, Patty Sproule on June 30th, 2023. While her experience, expertise and dedication will be sadly missed, no one deserves retirement more than Patty.
Over the past 45 years, Patty has selflessly given her time, blood, sweat and tears to serve children, youth, their families, and the community. She has been a Foster Parent, an Alternative School Counsellor and an Assessment and Treatment Centre Director. Patty has overseen In Home Support and Community Youth Worker Programs, co-founded Parent Link Centres, spent a decade as one of the City of Chestermere Directors, founded and developed Synergy and served four years on the Rocky View Schools Board of Trustees.
A few highlights of Patty’s work over the past 16 years in Chestermere and Area include founding or cofounding the following: Christmas With Dignity Program (now called Gifts of Kindness), YELL Youth Council (now called SERVE), the SHOUT program, Community Block Parties, Everyday Angels, Seniors Lunch and Learns, CHEMA (Chestermere Emergency Management Agency), Chestermere Regional Community Development Foundation, Chestermere Community Health Care Centre, the Chestermere Bike Park, the Chestermere Gives Back and Langdon Legacies initiatives, a Youth Internship Program, the Langdon Summer Drop In Program, the SE Rocky View Resource and Referral Program, as well as several coalitions, collaboratives and collectives. Patty sat on the Chestermere Policing Committee for several years, and she cofounded the Chestermere Crime Reduction Program which won a Ministry of Justice award for Municipal Excellence during its third year and more recently, Project Rewrite (an innovative Restorative Justice Program). She led the way for the development of the Centre for Community Leadership which has become home to numerous non-profit agencies and community groups. Patty was grateful to receive recognition through the Alberta Parks and Recreation Award for Excellence in Youth Development, the AUMA Above and Beyond Municipal Sustainability Award and the IPAC/Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Innovation award over the years.
When asked what she hopes her legacy will be, she says, “Two things - one is that I made a difference and the other is that I helped develop other leaders and most recently the three staff members who are taking over my duties when I retire. Coralee, Terry, and Alicea have got this – I am very proud of them for stepping up to form the Synergy Leadership Team.”
Please feel free to contact us for further information at 403-212-0242, extension 1 or involved@yoursynergy.ca. For more information on Synergy’s programs please visit www.yoursynergy.ca
