Rod had spent years working inside the youth-services system and saw firsthand what was missing — places where young people could feel safe, supported, structured, and genuinely cared for. He believed healing happened through relationships, consistency, and family, not just policy and paperwork.
Rod convinced his sister Karen to return to school to better understand the social work field and help strengthen the foundation of the program. He encouraged his brother Geoff to leave his career and take on the responsibility of helping operate a residential home. Rod himself balanced two worlds — serving as a police officer while also leading Fresh Start as its Director.
The vision quickly became a family effort.
Rod's father, George, became the in-house maintenance supervisor and mentor to many of the youth. Rod’s mother, Beverley, became known for preparing full-course meals that created warmth, routine, and a sense of home that many young people had never experienced before.
In the early years, there was significant criticism because many of the staff were friends and family. Rod stood firm in his response:
Family is not defined by blood or biology. Family is a place where people feel safe, secure, accepted, and protected — where people will go to the ends of the earth for one another.
That philosophy became the foundation of Fresh Start.
Eighteen years later, Fresh Start has grown into Ministry-licensed homes and support programs across the Greater Toronto Area, serving youth, adults, and families with complex needs through trauma-informed, relationship-based care.
The vision has never changed.
The work has only deepened.
