Steffanie Bjorgan awarded Meritorious Service Decoration

Steffanie Bjorgan says she was shocked recently to receive a letter from the office of the secretary to the governor general to tell her she has been awarded a Meritorious Service Decoration in the civil division.

“It is a testament to your outstanding achievement and service to the nation,” the letter says, and will be presented to her by Governor General Mary Simon at a ceremony to be held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

However, anyone who knows her and the work she has done over decades, first to establish Red Roof Retreat, and then to grow its programs and space to help more special needs children and their families in the Niagara Region, would not be at all surprised.

Ward Simpson isn’t. He came on board to help her with fundraising 20 years ago, and has been heavily involved ever since. It’s a journey that began when her middle son, Garrett, was born with cerebral palsy, and she realized how little was available for him and other children with special needs. The journey continues to this day, says Simpson, as Bjorgan recognizes the need for more space and programs to help more children and their families, and works to do whatever is necessary to put them in place, including a large expansion that is in the early stages of planning.

“Steff is an amazing woman,” Simpson says. “I’ve never seen anyone as much devoted to a single cause as Steff. She just took the ball, and has run with it so far.”

She is still running, he says, dedicated to Red Roof Retreat, while also being a very devoted mother and family person herself.

“She is someone who is concerned for life for everyone, whether it’s people, animals or anything in nature. She just wants the best for everyone and everything. This honour is so very well deserved.”

As Red Roof is growing to be able to help more clients, “our need for us to keep Steffanie as a leader is critical. The community is very supportive of Red Roof, knowing the work it does and that financially all the money raised goes for delivering services to special needs children, and that’s all because of her. People see her in that role and see her dedication to what she’s doing. She knows and is involved in all the intricacies of the organization, and does it all. It’s all her.”

Bjorgan is not comfortable with accolades, and says when she learned about the honour, her first question was “why?  Across the country a million wonderful things are happening.” But once she got over the shock, she realized, “this is pretty special,” and was pleased and excited, but as always, also focused on the added awareness the medal will bring to the work that is being done.

“This award is really all about Red Roof Retreat,” she says, and the services it makes available to those who need it — services that would not be in place for them otherwise. “There are other organizations that offer some services, but very few, and they’re not for all kids with special needs, they’re not offered in their community, and they’re not offering family-centred care, as we are.This is a great opportunity to create awareness for what we do.”

The government website explaining Meritorious Service Decorations says they “recognize great Canadians for exceptional deeds accomplished over a limited period of time that bring honour to our country.”

The civil division awards “were established to recognize remarkable contributions in many different fields of endeavour, from advocacy initiatives and health care services, to research and humanitarian efforts.

“Past recipients have tackled poverty in their community, improved education opportunities for children in Canada and abroad, or raised awareness of important causes and issues,” it continues. “They inspire us and make us proud.”

The communities of Niagara and families with special needs children already recognize that in Bjorgan, says Simpson. “She is an inspiration to us all."