By Helen Kelch, Strong Start Regional Program Co-ordinator, Ontario West
I still remember the day I met Ron Bailey. It was my first week as Regional Program Co-ordinator for Ontario West at Strong Start® Charitable Organization. Our Director of Program invited me to visit Southside Public School in Oxford County—one of the many schools running Strong Start’s Letters, Sounds and Words™ program. Excited, yet nervous, I was eager to embrace my new role and witness the program in action for the first time.
From the moment I stepped into the school, I was struck by its seamless implementation of the Letters, Sounds and Words program, the well-organized materials, and the warmth of a Volunteer Coach named Ron. His enthusiasm for the Letters, Sounds and Words program was infectious as he greeted us with a bright smile, eager to share his experience. Reflecting on his role, he said, “It is just as rewarding for me as the volunteer as it is for the kids. It is a very fulfilling experience to be able to help and give back. That one-to-one time is sometimes the one adult that can make a difference for these kids. It shows them that we care and want to help them succeed, which also helps to build their confidence back in the classroom.”
Now, two years later, I am thrilled to share that Ron is the inaugural recipient of the Steve Cameron Award—an honour presented annually to a Site Co-ordinator who demonstrates excellence in their role. The award, established in 2022, honours Strong Start’s founding Board Chair and his 21 years of service.
Since 2018, Ron has dedicated himself to serving his community, first as a Site Co-ordinator at Woodstock’s Southside P.S. and now at Innerkip P.S. Beyond his role as a Volunteer Coach, he is a passionate advocate for children’s literacy, a Volunteer Impact Speaker for United Way Oxford, and a newly certified Trainer of Volunteer Coaches with Strong Start.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ron to hear more about his journey, his passion for volunteering, and the impact he has had on his community.
What inspired you to first get involved as a volunteer with Strong Start?
I had been volunteering at Southside P.S., helping with their snack program, when a primary teacher introduced the Strong Start program and mentioned that they needed Volunteer Coaches. She approached me and explained how it worked. After asking a few questions, I agreed to help, and within weeks I had completed training and started coaching. The next year, as her workload increased, she asked if I would take on the role of Site Co-ordinator. I went back for more training and have been helping as both a Volunteer Coach and Site Co-ordinator since then.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience during your time volunteering that has stayed with you?
There are so many, but one stands out. I was working with a Grade 2 student who was struggling with her marks and self-esteem, seeing all her friends understanding the work and learning new things more quickly—and seemingly, more easily—than she could. About six or seven sessions in, we were playing a learning game and she was answering questions confidently. Suddenly, she paused and looked up at me, her eyes lit up with wonder and surprise. She said, “I know stuff. I’m not stupid!” Then she got up, took a few steps away from her chair, and did a happy dance right there in the middle of the library, chanting “I know stuff. I’m not stupid…”
That day, her life at school turned around. She went back to class happy and smiling. As the weeks went by following our sessions, her marks started to improve in all subjects, and she rediscovered her self-worth. She started making more friends and continued to succeed throughout the years.
Strong Start helped to make that happen. That one-on-one coaching gave her the chance to catch up on a few skills she may have missed, and enabled her to thrive.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering with Strong Start?
I’m not trying to steal a slogan from a certain shoe company, but “just do it.” Volunteering with Strong Start is vastly rewarding, easy to do, and makes such an enormous difference to the kids. The gift of just 5 hours of your time could help empower a future teacher, astronaut, engineer, or artist—something that only became possible because they knew how to read. Literacy opens the door to the universe. Please, help open that door for a child.
What is the best or funniest thing a child has ever said to you during your time volunteering?
Wow, that’s a tough one. Kids are so amazingly observant, brutally honest, and exceptionally curious that every session brings me a new perspective I hadn’t considered before. They constantly surprise and inspire me.
How does it feel to be recognized with the Steve Cameron Volunteer Award?
It feels amazing—and incredibly humbling—to be chosen for this honour. During my time with Strong Start, I have seen so many amazing Volunteer Coaches and Site Co-ordinators who help move this wonderful program forward. They are creative, caring, nurturing, and loved by the kids. Although I was selected for the inaugural presentation of this award, so many others are also equally deserving of this recognition.
Volunteers don’t do this work to get awards or accolades; we do it because we love helping others and are trying to make our corner of the universe a little better. I want to accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers helping with this program, and to personally thank each one of them for their gift of time. The world is brighter because of you.