Our Story
Founder Story
In 1999, three mothers met in the halls of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, where their teenage daughters were struggling with the debilitating effects of anorexia nervosa.
While the mothers appreciated the medical care available to their daughters, they were frustrated by the lack of community support for individuals, families, and friends affected by eating disorders.
Driven by a common desire to offer a centre of hope, peer support, and information to people facing similar struggles, they joined resources and took action.
Inspired by Sheena’s Place in Toronto, the three mothers formed Hopewell in August 1999 to provide individuals with public education programs, a resource and referral centre, and to fill other gaps in community services for teens, adults, and their families coping with eating disorders.
The need for Hopewell’s services is apparent in the letters of thanks and appreciation we receive from our clients.
Why is there a butterfly in our logo?
The butterfly in our logo represents transformation and rebirth, the idea of metamorphosis. A radical transformation of a living organism from one state to something completely different. It is a helpful metaphor for the transformation of sickness to health, from eating disorders to recovery.
The Butterfly Story
A man watched a butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through a little hole in its cocoon. Hoping to help, he took his pocket knife and carefully cut away the cocoon to set the butterfly free. Dismayed, he watched the butterfly’s movements gradually slow down until it lay motionless. An entomologist later explained to him that a butterfly needs that struggle to develop the strength to fly and survive. By robbing it of this struggle, it was made too weak to live. —Author unknown
Pictured from left to right are our founders Joanne Curran, (Anne Murray), Shelley Shusterman and Lucyna Neville. Hopewell’s first fundraiser in December 2000 included Anne Murray.
