We’re officially moving into a new Co-Chair model! Previously, one of the two CYPT Co-Chair positions has been the Region of Waterloo Director of Children’s Services. Barb Cardow has been in this seat since the CYPT was formed in 2011. As of June 2026, CYPT Voting Members endorsed a new model not to have a default Co-Chair role for Director of Children’s Services. Under this new model, we will have two Co-Chairs who serve four-year terms and are selected on a rolling two-year basis.
Background
As found in the CYPT Charter (page 14), one of the two CYPT Co-Chair positions has historically been the Region of Waterloo Consolidated Municipal Services Manager (CMSM). The CMSM has an ongoing responsibility for planning for Children’s Services in Waterloo Region and therefore has had the ongoing duty to Co-Chair the Children and Youth Planning Table. The Director of Children’s Services (currently Barb Cardow) has been in this seat since the CYPT was formed in 2011.
In 2017, CYPT Voting Members reviewed the ongoing duty of the CMSM as Co-Chair. At that time they decided the Service System Manager Co-Chair was appropriate and would continue — with intentional review in a couple of years’ time.
On May 4, 2026, Barb shared with Voting Members her recommendation not to have a default Co-Chair role for Director of Children’s Services. Some of the reasoning is as follows:
- The CYPT already has a connection with the Region of Waterloo via Economic Development, where the CYPT is hosted at the Region
- This change would allow for more flexibility to advocate to Region of Waterloo Council
- This change would reflect how the “community ownership” of the CYPT is more prevalent
- Individuals from Region of Waterloo Community and Health Services could apply for the role, but it wouldn’t need to be the Region of Waterloo exclusively in this seat
As of June 2026, CYPT Voting Members endorsed a new model not to have a default Co-Chair role for Director of Children’s Services. Under this new model, we will have two Co-Chairs who serve four-year terms and are selected on a rolling two-year basis.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Alison Pearson, Manager of the CYPT, at APearson@regionofwaterloo.ca.