After announcing his retirement last month, Dan Pelletier has started saying goodbye to everybody at the Thorold Community Activities Group (TCAG), where he has been the executive director for the past eight years.
On Friday, July 8 he will be closing the door of his office behind him for the last time.
“I’m lucky,” Pelletier says, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “I’ve enjoyed my vocation. When I think about my time at the TCAG, I was living the dream. I was able to come back to my hometown after being away 19 years and work for a cherished community institution and make a difference.”
The TCAG, which offers licensed childcare as well as recreational and leisure programming for kids and adults, has been around since 1981. When Pelletier came on as the executive director in 2014, the community organization was not in great shape.
“Things were struggling at the time and we needed to get things turned around, no doubt about it,” Pelletier says. “The first five years we were really able to grow the organization. That’s the important thing: getting the bums back in the seats, getting the programs revitalized.”
The TCAG was doing really well, and then COVID hit.
“It was difficult for me personally,” says Pelletier. “When things were completely shut down at the beginning I was the only one coming in here for a couple of months and that was weird and not much fun. None of us knew what was going on. At the beginning resources were scared. We had to take some calculated risks. We took a hit but this year we’re going to be back to our pre-COVID levels. I think we’re going to go even further.”
Pelletier decided to retire because he has been struggling with his physical health ever since a serious cycling accident eight years ago.
“I came to a tough decision that I need to be focusing on that a hundred percent to get it right,” he says. “However, once I came to that decision I said: ‘You know what? It’s time for some fresh new blood here,’ and I think there’s going to be a great leader coming in to make that happen.”
To celebrate Pelletier's retirement, a party was held on Saturday. Mayor Terry Ugulini and MP Vance Badawey presented Pelletier with certificates recognizing his achievements.
“I was honoured and humbled and very appreciative,” Pelletier says. “Everyone in the room was part of the story, celebrating my retirement. There was family, there was friends, there were community colleagues, there was staff, the board people, volunteers. That’s why this works and it was touching. I was moved for sure.”
Even though he'll be retired, Pelletier says he’s going keep up his engagement with the local community but he’s still figuring out exactly how. One thing’s for certain: he’s looking forward to spending more time with his brother and sisters.
A new executive director for the TCAG hasn’t been announced yet, but Pelletier says he’ll just be a phone call away if his help is ever needed.
“Part of me believes that whoever comes in needs to get the opportunity to make their mark,” he says. “I got to be out of the picture to give them a chance. However, if there’s any need for my advice or assistance I will provide it. I believe the TCAG is going to keep growing and thriving. There’s opportunity for things to go up another notch or two.”
