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Juanita Snelgrove has dedicated her life to helping children in her community through many decades of volunteer work, all while raising three children as a single mother.
Snelgrove, now 108 years old, was a former volunteer at CHEO.
“It was a wonderful organization to be a part of. I had the opportunity to be connected in many little ways, along the way,” said Snelgrove, who now has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
As CHEO marks 50 years since it opened its doors on May 17, 1974, volunteers such as Snelgrove are sharing stories about how they helped little patients in the hospital’s early days.
As a well-connected woman in the city’s west end, she recounts driving around in the 1960s and '70s with her dog Bandit to help the volunteer auxiliary raise money to open a children’s hospital in Ottawa.
She also spread the word alerting others that children needed hats, sweaters, and toys at the hospital. She would then deliver donations to CHEO.
“It was really quite simple,” she remembered, downplaying her efforts within her Anglican Church group.
Snelgrove’s contributions helped CHEO build its connection with the community as the hospital became part of the fabric of Ottawa.
Helping children was at the core of all Snelgrove's volunteer work with organizations like the Girl Guides, the Dunrobin Women’s Institute, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
She also worked hard to protect greenspace as a board member of the Pinhey’s Point Foundation in Ottawa’s west end, and a park in north Kanata was named in her honour.
Throughout CHEO’s 50 years, volunteers have continued to play a valuable role in creating the best life for every child and youth.