Our Mission, Team, & History
About CRSS
Our Mission
CRSS is a registered charity that strives to improve information and access to respite care for children in Greater Victoria.
To achieve this, we aim to do the following:
Raise funds to augment the provision of respite care for children in Greater Victoria
Act as an informational resource for respite care for children in Greater Victoria
Coordinate programs with other societies and agencies with shared interests
Board of Directors
Susan Pang
President
[Vacant]
Vice-President
Cheryl Longridge
Treasurer
Charles Card
Secretary
Ivana Tunklova
Director at Large
Robin DiMartino
Director at Large
Maryann Kawahara
Director at Large
Every Board member has been a parent or supportive friend of a child with complex medical or behavioural challenges. We understand what it’s like.
Interested in joining the Board of Directors? We want to hear from you! We’re currently seeking a Vice President. Contact us to learn more.
Closure of Respite Care Facilities
In September 2002, the Todd Wing at the Queen Alexandra (QA) Centre announced a sudden closure. This staffed medical wing had five beds for children with complex needs, offering temporary full-time respite care so their families could take a break.
With this sudden closure, caregivers were left stranded without arrangements for alternative care.
Families Facing It Alone
The families affected by the closure were already caring for some of the most medically fragile children in Greater Victoria, managing feeding pumps, oximeters, and complex medical care around the clock, often alone. Many had reached the edge of what they could sustain.
Yet in that crisis, they learned who their true friends and family were. And in their children in their patience, their stubbornness, their capacity to love and be loved these parents found the clearest evidence they'd ever known of the human soul. It was this strength, and the community that rallied around them, that carried them into the fight for MiMi's House.
The Parents in Crisis (PIC) Group
23 families affected by the Todd Wing closure banded together, creating an informal weekly Parents in Crisis (PIC) group to plan a response.
From October–December 2002, PIC contacted representatives at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, as well as local pediatricians and news organizations. They emphasized the impact of the Todd Wing closure, the need for interim care, and the need for continued funding for the new staffed resource.
Finding a New Community Site
The Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) agreed to continue the interim respite, but would only maintain its funding for the new staffed site if it was located ‘in the community.’
From January–March 2003, MCFD identified a few potential sites, consulting PIC to choose a suitable one and review their Request for Proposals (RFP) drafts. By April 2003, the Earlston House had been selected, and the RFP was sent out.
Preparing the House for Respite Care
Earlston House was acquired in June 2003, and construction progressed through the summer. They added a fourth bedroom and remodelled to bring the House up to code. Meanwhile, Centaine Support Services was selected as the care provider and began hiring staff.
Opening of MiMi’s House & Founding of CRSS
MiMi’s House opened in October 2003. It was named in memory of a child that passed away during the transition after the Todd Wing closed. PIC incorporated as Children’s Respite Support Society (CRSS), and became a registered charity in December 2003.
Today, MiMi’s House is owned and maintained by the BC Housing Authority, and care is provided by Thompson Community Services under contract with the Ministry for Children and Family Development. CRSS raises funds and accepts donations that are then used to improve the care and quality of life at MiMi’s House.
