BPW Greater Sudbury recognized Chantal Gladu for her commitment to working with citizens in the community by naming her Woman of the Month for November.
Gladu graduated from Collège Boréal with a Travail Social Diploma, and then completed a student placement with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).
She took on the responsibility in 2002 as the in-school mentoring co-ordinator and as the years progressed, she increased her responsibilities taking on various roles such as a case worker and case worker/supervisor before becoming the executive director in 2008.
As executive director of BBBS, Gladu has been highly visible in the community. BBBS currently has a waiting list of about two years for little brothers and anywhere from six to 12 months for little sisters to become part of the mentorship program.
The need for community awareness of BBBS’ services is great, and Gladu has raised awareness tirelessly over the years. Gladu is passionate about educating the community about the impact of BBBS’s Mentoring programs and she explains that these programs are crucial in our community as they have positively impacted the lives of many children, families and volunteers within the community.
“Women like Chantal work hard to help others in the community create better lives through mentorship and support," said BPW Greater Sudbury president Marianne Matichuk.
"BPW Greater Sudbury commends Chantal for all she does and continues to provide to citizens in our community."
Gladu’s passion for youth extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She and her daughter became Big Sisters in 2007. Since that time, Chantal, her daughter and her little sister often volunteer together at numerous events.
Her volunteer work has touched countless lives, as she continues to give her time outside of her demanding work life. She is committed to working with children, youth, seniors, and the homeless to provide them with support and assistance. She has also volunteered with the Finlandia Nursing Home, the Out of the Cold Program, and the Women of the Future program as well as with numerous other agencies in the community.
She is also a small business owner, often contributing her face painting and customized painted stemware to various charities’ fundraising efforts. Her dedication has won her the Governor General’s Award in 2002 as well as an “Etoile du College Boreal” award in 2010 and YWCA’s Woman of Distinction in 2014.
