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About Us

Transforming the lives of Ontario’s most vulnerable youth since 1973!

Our story began in 1973, when Dr. C.A. Roberts and Mr. R.S. Smart, joined forces and founded the Ottawa Carleton Regional Residential Treatment Centre for the Ottawa Health Region.

The Centre quickly expanded and now operates:

  • A Secure Treatment Facility
  • Two Open Live-In Treatment programs in a home setting
  • School-based Mental Health and Day Treatment programs in schools across Eastern Ontario
  • The Roberts/Smart Academy, a fully accredited private school
  • CORATH (an anti-human trafficking initiative)
  • Therapeutic Camping and Outdoor Treatment
  • A Community Reintegration program
  • Programs for families

Renamed the Roberts/Smart Centre in 1997, we continue to provide treatment to youth from across Ontario dealing with complex mental health and behavioural challenges in a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment.

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Our Team

Our multi-disciplinary team includes psychiatrists, occupational therapists, clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and child and youth counsellors who have special training in trauma-informed, client-centered, therapeutic crisis Intervention, and collaborative problem-solving.

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At A Glance

We have provided youth mental health treatment for almost 50 years.

We are a tertiary provider and provincial leader of mental health services.

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We are a designated provider under the French Language Services Act.

We serve the most critical youth with severe mental health and behavioural needs from across the province of Ontario.

We are accredited by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

We are a registered charity.

Our Mission

The Roberts/Smart Centre is a tertiary provider and provincial leader in the delivery of inclusive, community-based, individualized treatment and clinical services in both official languages to improve the lives of youth and their families from across Ontario living with complex mental health and behavioural needs.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which youth with complex mental health and behavioural challenges receive innovative, highest quality, progressive and supportive treatment—when they need it and in the way they need it—to help them heal, learn, grow and live their full potential.

Our Values

Strength-based

Individualized opportunity for youth

Respect and collaboration

Commitment to service excellence

Cultural safety and sensitivity, inclusivity, and diversity

Excellence in governance

Our Commitment to Diversity

The Roberts/Smart Centre strives to reflect those we serve through the diversity of our staff and Board of Directors. 

We are committed to organizational evolution by ensuring equity and inclusion at every level and as a foundational element of our identity.

We understand that we are working against, and within, the legacies of colonialism, systemic and institutional racism, and structural inequalities.

We pursue leading practices for greater equity and inclusion through a purposeful and action-oriented organizational development.

We commit to increasing our reach to the diverse communities we serve throughout Ontario.

We will focus on creating a more expansive understanding of Ottawa and other communities within the province with an emphasis on eliminating barriers that reduce access for our clients and families.

We will ensure our treatment and support of clients and families is through a psychologically safe, equitable and inclusive service delivery model that is individualized, holistic, and trauma-informed.

Leadership

Our team is led by our Executive Director, Deborah Ann Headley, who began her appointment in July 2024.

Board of Directors

  • Dean Tester: President

  • Ed Miner: Vice President

  • Shannon Lundquist: Treasurer

  • Louise Battistelli: Secretary

  • Simon Brazier: Past President
  • Francois D’Aoust: Director
  • Woody Aspilaire: Director
  • Kristen Rudderham: Director
  • Jennifer Radley: Director
  • Nadine Trépanier-Bison: Director
  • Craig Maddock: Director
  • Aron Feuer: Director

Annual General Meeting 2021-2022

On Thursday October, 27, the Roberts/Smart Centre held its AGM at the beautiful Orange Gallery.

One of the highlights of the evening was a keynote address by the Hon. Bernadette Clément, Senator. She spoke passionately about her identity as a Franco-Ontarian woman of colour.

Catherine Van Vliet, Executive Director of the Roberts/Smart Centre, presented the Centre’s Annual Report for 2021-2022.

A few employees also received Long Service Awards. The full list of Long Service Award recipients is available in the Annual Report.

View Annual Report

Publications

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