logo
Retiring Steve Cordes looks back at 40 years of helping London's youth

Retiring Steve Cordes looks back at 40 years of helping London's youth

CBC16-04-2025

Social Sharing
After almost four decades, a London-based organization that helps young people will have new leadership.
Steve Cordes will be retiring from Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) in August after 35 years as executive director, and a total of 41 years of overall service to the organization. Under his direction, YOU launched a number of different initiatives including the recently-opened Joan's Place.
Cordes sat down with London Morning host Andrew Brown to reflect on the impact he's made.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
AB: Take me back. Do you remember your first day and what it was like?
SC: Vividly. I just graduated from Western, so I was looking for work and the economy wasn't great. I walked into what felt like a gritty 1970's TV show. The place was pretty haphazard. It was in a not-for-profit incubator in the Dundas and Colborne area. I remember seeing three young people sitting there. And I remember all three had very different struggles on the go.
Somebody had some sort of addiction. Somebody else had just become homeless because of a mental health diagnosis. And the third person was just somebody looking for work. It's kind of indicative of what you might see now.
I remember thinking, you know what, this is a really special place. It was the way the staff interacted with people. And I saw employment counsellors coming out, and somebody looking so relieved to see this person that looked like a lifeline. And I thought, I really love this place.
AB: Did you know that you were stepping into the thing that you would be doing professionally for the rest of your career?
SC: No, I had no idea. Nobody at YOU stayed longer than two years at that point, and the more I got into it, the more I loved it. I left the organization for a short while to work somewhere else and my heart felt heavy.
It made me deeply appreciate how much workplace culture matters, because I worked for a great organization outside of YOU, but they didn't have the same culture. They didn't have the same drive to focus on the clients that they were supporting. I never wrapped my head around the work itself. So when the job came up at YOU for the CEO, I jumped at it and then thought, I'm not going through that thing again. I'll just stay.
AB: The kids you met more than 40 years ago on that first day - one kid had an addiction and another was becoming homeless. How common were those stories back then?
SC: The homelessness wasn't so common for sure. I think at that point we were always seeing a pretty significantly needy clientele. I remember the stats we used to collect that time. We don't collect anymore, but 25 per cent of our clients had no high school education. That's significant if your last earned credit was in Grade 8, right? So literacy levels would have been very limited.
But, there was a drive to get something and there was a sense of hope that if I work hard, if I get the right opportunity, I can land a job and build a career and build a future and so on. The difference now is that drive is still there, but that sense of hope is not there so much.
AB: What happened to that sense of hope?
SC: I think back then, if you're on public assistance, you had enough income support from what was welfare at the time, now Ontario Works, that you could pay rent and there was housing stock available. There were still rent-geared-to-income opportunities. There was co-op, there were affordable housing projects, but there was also affordable housing stock.
I'd say not having housing stock available just slams people in terms of their hope. And I think it leads to mental health issues, much of the addictions issues that we see. So you start having to build that sense of hope. And I'd say that the organization for the past 35 years, 40 years, has dug deep into not expanding the clientele that we serve, but deeper into how can we support them in those other ways to get them in the position so that they are ready for employment, they are ready to go back to school and so on.
Steve Cordes reflects on 4 decades with Youth Opportunities Unlimited
4 hours ago
Duration 7:45
After 35 years at the helm of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Steve Cordes will be retiring in August. Cordes joined London Morning host Andrew Brown to reflect on the work that's been done to help youth in London and what needs to continue.
AB: Have you seen the young people change over the years?
SC: I'd say yes. The biggest change is there's so many young people now who don't see themselves as a member of the community. So it's almost like a counterculture kind of thing, right? And that really wasn't evident, you know, 35, 40 years ago for sure.
AB: So as you walk away, Steve, how are you feeling about the state of things in London and, and the situation for young people here?
SC: I feel very good about the organization. It's in a great spot. With Joan's Place and the opportunities that are there with the hub that we've got at London Health Sciences Centre, the partnerships with other not-for-profits with healthcare and so on, there's a really robust and a really strong service model there.
However, I say a concern for me is that beyond that there's a lot of unmet needs. There's not enough leadership in our community to really push for change. I think we need to be looking at things differently.
I gotta brag about YOU, I've been doing it for 40 years and it's heartfelt, but it shouldn't be the exception that you walk into a place and you just say, 'OK, something's different about the culture here'. People that are walking in, it's low barrier, they have access, they're supported right through to the end of their levels of need.
We have too many organizations, too many systems that are turning people away. We have an Ontario Works system that gives people $400 a month for their housing allowance knowing that that will get them absolutely nothing.
AB: Do you think we'll get there, Steve?

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Carney was right to not retaliate against Trump's latest tariffs
Carney was right to not retaliate against Trump's latest tariffs

Globe and Mail

timean hour ago

  • Globe and Mail

Carney was right to not retaliate against Trump's latest tariffs

Fraser Johnson is the Leenders Supply Chain Management Association Chair at the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ont. In the latest twist to the Canada-U.S. trade saga, last week U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which now stand at 50 per cent. As the largest supplier of both metals to the U.S., these tariffs disproportionately affect Canada. Not surprisingly, there were immediate calls for the Canadian government to retaliate, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said: 'We can't sit back and let President Trump steamroll us. We need to react immediately.' To do so would be a mistake. The federal government initially imposed a series of retaliatory tariffs in March and early April in a tit-for-tat trade exchange with Washington. It was a predictable, and maybe natural, response. Many Canadians felt that we were being bullied by our largest trading partner and Canada needed to retaliate. However, this approach has been unproductive, only serving to further alienate Mr. Trump and his trade representatives. More recently, Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken a more pragmatic approach to trade relations with Washington, and the Canadian strategy has quietly appeared to shift. Mr. Carney has exempted products from counter-tariffs to help Canadian businesses adapt and because of concerns about driving up costs for Canadian consumers. According to a report by Oxford Economics released last month, almost 60 per cent of the $96-billion in U.S. imports hit by Canadian counter-tariffs are eligible for relief. The rhetoric from Ottawa has also been toned down. While it is still clear that he believed the tariffs were 'unjustified' and 'illegal,' Mr. Carney decided not to respond immediately and refrained from publicly admonishing Washington, as was the tendency of his predecessor Justin Trudeau. That was the right thing to do. I have been steadfast in my opinion that responding with counter-tariffs is an ineffective strategy. They serve only to raise prices for consumers and punish Canadian businesses that are already struggling with the effects of Mr. Trump's tariff policy. From retaliation to negotiation: How Canada's U.S. trade strategy is shifting under Carney Ottawa sees $617-million boost for import duties in March as Conservatives demand countertariff numbers Similarly, it is also my view that the U.S. tariffs are ill-conceived and unsustainable. Another reason to not retaliate against the tariffs is that Mr. Trump would not be able to keep them up for long. Supply chains rely on regional networks for a number of practical reasons, including minimizing transportation costs and shortening lead times. North America is a perfect example, with our integrated supply chains in sectors such as energy, autos, and steel and aluminum. That Canada and Mexico are America's largest trading partners is a function of the supply-chain infrastructure that has developed and evolved over decades. American businesses need Canadian steel and aluminum. U.S. production capacity for primary aluminum can satisfy only about 20 per cent of its total demand and it has been nearly half a century since a major aluminum smelter has been built in the United States. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. steel and iron imports and approximately one-half of its aluminum imports come from Canada. Ultimately, though, we must be realistic. Efforts to diversify our markets and eliminate barriers to interprovincial trade certainly need to be pursued. However, the practical reality is that Canada's geographic proximity to the world's largest market means we will continue to rely on our economic relationship with the U.S. The indirect effect of the recurring cycle of tariffs and counter-tariffs is economic and business uncertainty, which contributes to investment hesitancy and reduced risk-taking. In the current environment, Canadian businesses are less likely to make commitments to capacity expansion, new technologies, hiring and new product/service development. A resolution is required so that businesses can understand the rules and evaluate the economic consequences of their decisions. Canadians are starting to see the effects of the trade dispute with Washington, with plunging exports to the U.S. and the unemployment rate ticking up. Many economists are expecting an economic slowdown and possibly a recession later this year. The Ivey Purchasing Managers Index, a leading economic indicator, contracted for the second straight month in May while the Prices Index showed accelerating costs. This is not the time for impulsive reactions. I support a deliberate approach. Neither party wins by escalating the trade war, and I believe Mr. Trump wants a deal with Canada, but the U.S. has the advantage in this situation, and it will be more difficult if we retaliate. The negotiations are complex and involve multiple stakeholders, and will most certainly take several weeks to hash out. While I expect that current negotiations with the U.S. will be resolved successfully, patience is required.

Accurate Network Services Acquires Shift Support, Expanding IT Capabilities and Client Reach
Accurate Network Services Acquires Shift Support, Expanding IT Capabilities and Client Reach

Cision Canada

time2 hours ago

  • Cision Canada

Accurate Network Services Acquires Shift Support, Expanding IT Capabilities and Client Reach

EDMONTON, AB, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Accurate Network Services, a leading provider of IT support and cybersecurity solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Shift Support, an Edmonton-based IT services company known for its strong client relationships and personalized service. The acquisition, finalized this month, brings together two values-aligned organizations dedicated to doing IT differently. Together, they will focus on proactive support, long-term partnerships, and measurable business impact for clients. , Founder and President of Accurate Network Services, shared his enthusiasm about the milestone: "Bringing Shift Support into the Accurate family is about more than growth—it's about deepening our promise to clients. Shift's culture of proactive service and their reputation for solving problems before they happen mirror the values we built Accurate on 18 years ago. Together, we're combining Shift's nimble, client-first approach with Accurate's scale, security expertise, and 24/7 support. The result is a stronger partner who can move faster, protect clients better, and keep their businesses running without interruption. We're excited for this next chapter and grateful to the Shift team and clients for trusting us to help them succeed." Founded nearly two decades ago, Accurate has grown from a solo venture into a 60-person team serving clients across Western Canada. The addition of Shift Support will expand Accurate's presence not only in Edmonton and Alberta but Canada-wide and bring in a talented team of professionals who share the same customer-first mindset. Mike Alexander, Co-Founder of Shift Support, added: "The acquisition of Shift represents an exciting step forward - one built on a shared commitment to client success, a strong service philosophy, and a belief in doing IT differently. By joining forces with Accurate Networks, we're creating new growth opportunities for our team and expanding our ability to serve clients with even greater depth, scale, and expertise. Shift and Accurate Networks are aligned around values that matter: personalized support, long-term relationships, and a proactive approach to IT. Our clients can expect continuity where it counts, and improvements where it makes a difference. We're incredibly excited about this next chapter - one that brings greater resources, more capabilities, and a renewed commitment to delivering exceptional service, every step of the way." As part of the transition, clients can expect continuity in the people and services they've come to trust, along with new benefits such as: Enhanced phone and after-hours support Additional project resources for faster turnaround Access to Accurate's mature cybersecurity department A commitment to regular client feedback and personalized service evolution Accurate Network Services is already reaching out to Shift Support clients to learn what matters most to them during this integration and ensure a seamless experience throughout the process. About Accurate Network Services Accurate is a Canadian IT services provider offering managed IT, cybersecurity, and project services to organizations of all sizes. Founded in 2006, Accurate is driven by a mission to better the lives of those they work with—clients, team members, and communities alike.

Canadians avoided taking trips to the U.S. in May, StatCan says
Canadians avoided taking trips to the U.S. in May, StatCan says

Montreal Gazette

time2 hours ago

  • Montreal Gazette

Canadians avoided taking trips to the U.S. in May, StatCan says

OTTAWA — Canadians continued to avoid making trips to the U.S. in May, according to preliminary data from Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada said Tuesday that return trips by Canadian residents by air from the U.S. in May fell 24.2 per cent compared with a year ago to 488,800, even as return trips from overseas countries rose 9.8 per cent to 1.1 million. Meanwhile, Canadian resident return trips from the U.S. by automobile totalled 1.3 million, down 38.1 per cent compared with May 2024, to mark the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Canadians have boycotted travel to the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs and '51st state' threats over the past few months. The response has affected airlines, which have moved to reduce capacity to the U.S. in response to the lower demand. In March, Air Canada reduced flights by 10 per cent to Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona, while rivals WestJet, Flair Airlines and Air Transat made similar moves. Air Canada cut its financial forecast for the year last month amid the lower U.S. demand. The Montreal-based airline has said Canadians' appetite for travel has shifted partly to domestic destinations, but also Europe as well as Asia and Australia. According to the preliminary figures Tuesday, Statistics Canada said international arrivals in May, including returning Canadian residents and non-residents combined, by air and automobile totalled 4.8 million, down 16.7 per cent from May 2024. Non-resident arrivals to Canada by air totalled 894,200 in May, down 1.3 per cent from a year ago. The number of U.S. residents arriving by air totalled 439,800, down 0.3 per cent from a year ago, while the number of overseas residents arriving slipped 2.3 per cent to 454,500. The number of U.S.-resident trips to Canada by automobile was 1,044,700, down 8.4 per cent from a year ago, to make it the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year declines, Statistics Canada said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store