Elementary program is providing new growth areas in East Coast

Best Buddies is growing on the East Coast!  This past spring we began building on the success of the middle school and elementary school programs in Ontario, and opened new chapters at both the middle and elementary school levels in Fredericton, New Brunswick!  Nashwaaksis Middle School and Park Street Elementary School are the first on the East Coast in these new programs, and are both feeder schools into the Leo Hayes High School chapter in Fredericton. 

Mrs. Tanya McBride, Special Education Advisor at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, is a big advocate for Best Buddies and helped bring these schools on board by sharing her chapter's success with other schools in the area.
Mrs. McBride is very excited about these new programs for the younger students.

"The expansion of Best Buddies into elementary and middle schools is very exciting for the Leo Hayes chapter. As feeder schools, these students will eventually attend our high school. Rather than needing to recruit students to join our group, there will be a natural progression of group members from these schools."

Mrs. Tanya Arseneau, SEA for Nashwaaksis Middle school says the chapter is off to a great start this year!  Interest in the program is growing and the students are really enjoying it.  Last year the students took a trip to visit the local SPCA and are getting ready to have their Meet & Greet just in time for Halloween!

In the upcoming school year we hope to expand into even more middle and elementary school chapters in Fredericton and the rest of the country.