Showing Up With ♥️: Why Support Workers Choose CVNQuinte
“I love my job.” When Gloria Sherwood says this, she’s reflecting an all-too-rare sentiment that comes of having a balanced and satisfying career in 2025. It’s a lived truth that shows in every story she tells about her time as a support worker with CVNQuinte.
Gloria, like several of her colleagues, came to CVNQuinte after a career in more rigid, task-based environments.
“Other roles that I’ve had before, you’re kind of told what your shift is and what your job is, and your role might not change at all,” she says. “This is very, very flexible. You get to really connect with people that you enjoy supporting.”
Flexibility is a common theme among the employees who pause to reflect on their work with this respected Belleville agency. But it’s not just about fitting work around personal life — though many are raising children, supporting family members, or making time for kayaking and grandkids. It’s also about allowing each worker to bring their whole self to the job.
For Cody Rizzo, the agency’s culture of person-directed support was transformative. “The possibilities truly are endless,” he says. “We are people-first and person-directed. I’m not just being told what I have to do. I’m being told, ‘Hey, help this person live their best life.’” It’s that invitation to make a difference that keeps him showing up in his vital support role with energy, empathy, and purpose.
“It allows me to really have a sense of fulfillment,” says Cody. “When I’m going anywhere with anyone, it’s what they want to be doing.”
Support worker Mark McKeown agrees. For him, the job is deeply rewarding because of the joy that comes when a person reaches a goal they’ve set for themselves. “I like how pleased they are when they’ve achieved that goal,” he explains.”It boosts their self-esteem. And I know I had a part in helping them to achieve it.”
Mark appreciates CVNQuinte’s organizational support for dignity and choice, even when that includes the possibility of failure. “Whether it turns out to be a good decision or not a good decision, they have that right to make it,” he explains. “And if it fails, we’re there to help. We all fail at something once in a while.”
That mindset of empowering and not controlling sets CVNQuinte apart. As Executive Director Terri Korkush has said in past interviews, “We want people to feel ownership over their days. That goes for both the people we serve and the people we employ.”
For Debra Bebee-Houlahan, this work goes way beyond a job. It’s a calling shaped by compassion, reflection, and lived experience. “I was ill last year, and in the event that I would need support, and I did, I would like someone genuine to do it. Someone that comes in with a smile and is supportive and says, ‘What can I do for you today?’” Debra’s approach is deeply relational. “You can do anything if you laugh through it,” she says. “We all have those situations. So it’s building a comfort level that makes it a good day.”
Amanda McDowell, a developmental service worker with CVNQuinte for over 16 years, speaks to the powerful relationships that come from consistency and mutual respect. “You get to take the time to get to know the people that you support,” she explains. “So then you just naturally build rapport. You develop a really positive working relationship because you just know them.”
Amanda, like others, finds CVNQuinte’s flexible scheduling essential. “My family life is always going to be my priority,” she says. “So the wonderful thing about working here is the flexibility that you can have in your schedule.”
That flexibility, paired with a strong team dynamic and consistent support from leadership [see this related article about Engagement Days at CVNQuinte], creates a space where people thrive. Conversations with support workers reveal that this agency team dynamic is not about checking boxes or just meeting hours. It’s about doing work that feels meaningful. And knowing your workplace has your back.
As Cody shares, the secret to success in this line of work is uncomplicated: “Be kind. Be genuine. Be flexible.”
Experience the sincere passion of support workers at CVNQuinte in this micro-documentary:
