Chaperlin Wins Inaugural Erminie Cohen Compassion Award

Monica Chaperlin is the inaugural recipient of the Erminie Cohen Compassion Award.

The award created in memory of the late Senator and founder of the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation.

In nominating her, Cathy Wright said Chaperlin supported the YMCA in establishing the first early learning centre in Saint John and was a strong advocate in bringing the model of First Steps Housing offering at-risk parents an opportunity to safely learn to be parents and for many to receive their high school education within the facility.

Chaperlin was also a key leader in the development of the Teen Resource Centre, involving the Horizon Health Network and the business community to bring the concept to a reality in 2007.

Wright called Chaperlin the “lynchpin” for the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative. She helped support local research in partnership with the Anglophone School District-South that focused on schools in neighbourhoods where children are struggling.

On her win, Chaperlin said she is “tremendously honoured” and hopes she can use this occasion to shine the spotlight on New Brunswick children who need help.

“The foundation has made it possible to further Erminie’s mission. She sounded the alarm on child poverty,” Chaperlin said.

Chaperlin said her inspiration comes from others who work to create the right conditions for children to thrive at home and in the community.

She acknowledged the support of many “awesome organizations” leading the charge against child poverty.

“I have been able to see in my lifetime, improvements in the way we support children and families and communities. I just want to see it keep going until no child ever again lives a lifetime of poverty,” Chaperlin said.

On being the first recipient, Chaperlin said she finds the honour “overwhelming” and she is “tremendously honoured”.

“I am really thankful to my group of colleagues who secretly nominated me and especially grateful to the foundation for selecting me,” Chaperlin said.

Suzanne Kingston, executive director of the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation, said an online celebration is planned for later this month to recognize Monica’s win, the memory of Erminie Cohen, and raise awareness about the needs for adoptive homes for children and youth.

“We’re holding a virtual tea on March 21st at 3 p.m. You can register online, we have an Event Brite registration process,” Kingston said.

Kingston said the tea is free to attend but donations are welcome.

She said the award was created so the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation could do something to remember the legacy of Erminie Cohen.

“It was important to continue that energy and inspiration that she brought to us, to our cause, to adoption and to children in general,” Kingston said.

On Chaperlin as the first winner of the award honouring Cohen, Kingston said she does a lot herself but called it “amazing” how she engages others.

“And she just doesn’t engage just anyone, she engages all of those perspectives in order to really make huge changes and Erminie was very much like that,” Kingston said.