As we step into January 2026, we are filled with gratitude and purpose as we celebrate 30 years since the first Plan to Protect® manual was written-a milestone that marks three decades of commitment to safeguarding children, youth, and vulnerable adults. This anniversary also celebrates 20 years since we incorporated Winning Kids Inc., now known as Plan to Protect®, the company, walking alongside churches, charities, not-for-profits, and businesses that serve the vulnerable sector.

What began as a practical resource has grown into a trusted standard across Canada, the United States, and beyond-supporting organizations that want to partner with subject experts, do the right thing, not only because it is required, but because it reflects their values.

Our Story: From Manual to Movement

In 1996, the first Plan to Protect® manual was developed in response to a growing awareness that good intentions alone were not enough to keep people safe. At the time of writing, churches needed clear policies, practical procedures, and thoughtful training to reduce the risk of abuse and respond well when concerns arose. Our focus in those early days were "Children Matter"!

As demand grew, so did the vision. Plan to Protect® was formally established as a company to provide more hands-on expert guidance, customizable policies, training, and ongoing support-helping organizations move from uncertainty to confidence. Over the years, our work has expanded, but our purpose has remained the same: to help organizations create safer environments where trust can flourish. We were quickly endorsed by insurance companies, Associations, and Denominations.

Our Story: From Manual to Movement

The second week of Advent draws our hearts toward peace—a peace that passes understanding and brings calm even in the midst of hardship. Yet in the context of abuse, peace is often the first thing stolen. Safeguarding restores peace by creating environments where people can trust that their wellbeing matters. Through clear policies, healthy boundaries, and consistent supervision, we actively work to reduce chaos and confusion, replacing them with predictability and protection. This kind of peace is tangible, felt in the stability and security of a well-prepared community.

Advent begins with hope—a quiet, steady confidence that God is at work even in the most broken places. For many, stories of harm and abuse can feel overwhelming, leaving communities discouraged or unsure of where to begin. But safeguarding is, at its core, an act of hope. It declares that things can be different and that every child, youth, and vulnerable adult deserves a safe place to belong. When we put thoughtful policies in place, strengthen accountability, and build teams who serve with integrity, we help usher in a future where safety is the norm, not the exception.

As the winter lights go up and the holiday cheer begins, something else quietly rises too: the risk of scams aimed at older adults. It might start with a fake charity email, an urgent text about a family emergency, or a too-good-to-be-true holiday deal. What begins as excitement or generosity can quickly turn into confusion, financial loss, and a sense of violation.

When her son lost his job, Margaret didn’t think twice. She wanted to help. She covered groceries, gave him gas money, and said he could stay until he got back on his feet. That was two years ago. Now, her pension goes into a joint account her son manages. She no longer sees the bills. When she asks questions, he tells her not to worry. Sometimes he gets angry. Margaret knows he’s stressed, but she also knows something doesn’t feel right. It started with love, but somehow it turned into something that makes her feel uneasy in her own home.

Intergenerational programs are not simply community-building exercises. They are strategic interventions that protect vulnerable populations, reduce isolation, and foster resilience across age groups. When designed with safeguarding principles at the core, these programs become essential tools for promoting dignity, inclusion, and safety.

Why These Programs Are Critical

Older adults are increasingly vulnerable to loneliness, cognitive decline, and neglect, conditions that often go unnoticed until they become critical. At the same time, youth frequently struggle with emotional regulation, lack of mentorship, and are disconnected from meaningful relationships. Intergenerational programs offer a structured solution to these parallel challenges by creating environments where both groups thrive.

When seniors are engaged in these programs, they often experience a renewed sense of purpose and social connection. Youth, in turn, gain empathy, develop stronger communication skills, and learn to value the lived experiences of older generations. The ripple effect extends beyond individual participants: communities become more cohesive, less fragmented, and more resilient.

However, these outcomes are only achievable when intergenerational initiatives are grounded in safeguarding protocols, designed for accessibility, and informed by trauma-sensitive practices. Without these foundational elements, the potential for harm outweighs the promise of connection.

Today, we remember and honour those who were also uprooted from their homes as young children and placed in residential schools across our nation on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. These children, some as young as six, were torn from their parents, placed in residential schools, and told they could not speak in their own language. They were given new beds, forced into a new way of life—taught a different language, culture, and faith.

I don’t want this day to pass by without meditating on its importance.

History continues to repeat itself. Ecclesiastes declares there is nothing new under the sun. Throughout history, people have been uprooted from their homes and forced into exile or displacement. These involuntary movements, often driven by war, persecution, political upheaval, or ethnic cleansing, represent a profound loss of home, culture, and community.

Deception in Disguise

Ed and his wife Lillian had been quietly managing their financial struggles when Ed received a phone call that seemed to offer a lifeline. A stranger (saying he was representing a political incumbent) promised a generous deposit if Ed would simply provide his bank card number and PIN. He was told this was an initiative of the federal government on behalf of Seniors. Desperation led to trust, and within hours, their account was emptied and their credit maxed out.

Stories like Ed’s aren’t rare. They're part of an alarming pattern. Seniors across Canada are increasingly the targets of fraud schemes that not only drain their savings but also shake their confidence and independence. These scams aren’t just clever tricks—they're calculated attacks on those least equipped to fight back.

History is full of leaders who started strong but ended in moral failure. Whether in the church, government, business, or non-profit work, the sad truth is that position and influence do not make a person immune to temptation. In fact, leadership can intensify both opportunity and vulnerability.

Please note this true case study is alarming. As of June 5th, 2025, the teacher had yet to be arrested, but a criminal investigation was underway. https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article305571141.html

A fifth-grade teacher at B.D. Gullett Elementary School, identified as Jarrett Williams, allegedly groomed an 11-year-old student—sending her a two-page, hand-written letter confessing, “You know I truly love you no matter what… I love how close we have gotten this year” (https://www.mysuncoast.com). After the letter was discovered on March 9, 2025, authorities and district officials were notified the next day, and Williams was immediately reassigned to a non-teaching role (WESH, WTSP).

Despite the severity of the allegations—including parents calling it a “textbook grooming letter”—the school board voted on April 29 to accept Williams’s resignation under investigation, rather than officially firing him (https://www.mysuncoast.com). Only one dissenting voice, board member Cindy Spray, urged the district to fire him outright (Your Observer).

District officials later defended the resignation stance as functionally equivalent to a firing. They emphasized that his personnel file would be flagged, and multiple agencies—including the state Department of Children and Families, the Department of Education’s Office of Professional Practices, and local law enforcement—were looped in (WESH).

However, the parents—shaken by the letter’s discovery—said they had hoped for a firmer statement: “To us, we felt termination was tougher language… somebody we would hope would never be in a classroom again” (WESH).