Janet Burns, Community Living Prince Edward

Hi, I’m Janet Burns, and I’ve worked with Community Living Prince Edward for 40 incredible years. Starting out as a summer student, I wasn’t certain what I wanted to do for my career and soon realized this was a field where I could make a real difference every day.

Over the years, I’ve worked with all ages and seen people who live with intellectual disabilities make great progress in living more active and inclusive lives in our community. Currently, I coordinate community supports and services, an area that’s evolved a lot over the past four decades.

The other day we welcomed Ruth to host drumming circle and was great to see how participants are improving their musical skills and rhythm thanks to Ruth’s twice monthly visits. We also have a pet therapy volunteer who supports people interacting with animals.

One of the aspects of my job that’s most rewarding is connecting people within the community to events and opportunities. For instance, two people I work with volunteer at the Salvation Army and several individuals attend the functional fitness class at Picton Library.  

An experience that stands out to me was an opportunity to support a woman who’d moved to Prince Edward County from New Brunswick. She got involved in a local bowling team, reconnected with a family member, and soon made a good friend who she’s still close with, decades later. It’s great to see how one community connection can make a life-changing difference in multiple people’s lives.

I truly look forward to coming to my job every day. I’m working with colleagues who I really like and respect. The people I work with are awesome and very keen to take part in local community activities. If you’re looking to explore a role in human services, there are lots of opportunities to have a varied career here at Community Living Prince Edward. I recommend that you talk to people who work here and consider the new Inclusion Support Worker Learn and Earn Program.

Every day, Community Living Prince Edward team members like Janet Burns help people achieve their goals here in the County.