In 1927 a permanent summer camp was organized on the bay shore at Rednersville. The camp was established not only for Wards but for needy children between the ages of six and twelve years. There were dormitories, staff quarters and a cook house. Mr. Ruston now operated from an office in his home at 28 Cedar Street.

During this time, the average number of children at the Shelter was 30.

In October of 1928 it was reported in the newspaper that Diphtheria had broken out at the children’s shelter. 26 children and some of the employees were under confinement.

In November, 1933 at the 25th Annual General Meeting, a revised Constitution having been adopted, reincorporation by Letters Patent under the Companies’ Information Act of Ontario was necessary.

By 1933 the number of children in care and living in the Shelter increased to 57.

On February 12, 1934 the matter of “boarding wards out” was discussed. The matter was put over until the Superintendent returned from a meeting with the Minister of Child Welfare when there would be more information available on the matter. There are presently 52 in the Shelter, ranging from two months to ten years.

On April 9, 1934 the Secretary brought to the Notice of the Meeting the new form of Constitution and By-Laws for the Children’s Aid Society.

On May 8, 1934 Dr. Semple moved that the Constitution and By-Laws be accepted. Seconded by Rev. Neal.

On March 12, 1935 it was moved by Mrs. McFee and seconded by Mrs. Lent that part-time stenographic help, in view of the increased work, be given to Superintendent, Mr. Ruston.

New Regulations in Child Welfare, 1935

February 11, 1935 the Secretary read her report on information received from Toronto with regard to the new regulations governing minimum requirements for local Children’s Aid Societies.

On March 27, 1935 a special committee, appointed to consider the new regulations, met with Mr. Heise, Provincial Superintendent. In order to bring the grade higher than a “D”, Mr. Heise dealt with each clause on improvements submitted by the Department

The following is a copy of a special committee report signed by Mrs. McFee:

Belleville, Ont., April 8, 1935

The Special Committee appointed to consider the new regulations sent to us by the Department met on Wednesday evening, March 27 at the YMCA. At our invitation Mr. Heise, Provincial Superintendent, was present and in a very concise manner presented the Department’s view with its desire to build a better way of dealing with the children that, from time to time, come under the care of the different Societies. Mr. Heise said that in the province there are fifty-eight Societies and that only seven have been graded “A”. Eleven were graded “E” and forty graded “D”, our Society being one of this group. Mr. Heise dealt with each of the following improvement clauses submitted by the Department.

1. Drastically reduce its institutional program by more active policy of child placement.
2. Improve its system of recording details relative to cases dealt with and children care.
3. Addd personnel to staff -- stenographic and field.
4. Remove office from superintendent’s home.
5. Realign finances in order to provide a proper per diem rate based on that portion of service properly chargeable to the Municipality.
6. Improve detailed preventive work service.
7. Improve system of home finding and supervision.

Mr. Heise announced that it was the intention of the Department to inaugurate the monthly inspection and from reports received at the end of a six month period a re-evaluation of the Societies would be made, and when improvements were noted, a higher grade would be given.

It will be part of the duty of the Inspector to make suggestions to aid the local Superintendent. It was pointed out to him the great difficulty which we have to face was our Shelter and the heavy expenses of operating it, especially with only a few children in residence. He suggested that we close part of it and thus cut down some of the overhead expenses, for it would not be necessary to have such a large building entirely in use but we should go slowly in this matter, feeling our way, for he fully appreciated the situation we were in and the heavy load we had to carry in maintaining such a large Shelter.

Before leaving, the Chairman assured him that we would endeavor to fall in line with the new deal and give it a fair trial. We adjourned at 10:30 pm at the call of the Chairman.

The Special Committee met again on Friday, April 5th at the YMCA at 5 p.m. and discussed how they would take steps to conform to the Department’s wishes, in view of the explanation given to us at the previous meeting by Mr. Heise.

We felt that proper office accommodation and stenographic help should be provided for the local Superintendent; hence it was moved by Mrs. Lent and seconded by Mrs. McFee: That Miss E. Bird, who has been assisting the Superintendent part time, be employed full-time as stenographer and assistant to the Superintendent at $10.00 per week from May 1st, 1935.

It was moved by Mrs. Anderson and seconded by Mrs. Lent: That a sub-committee of three, namely Mr. E. R. McBride, Mr. J. B. Findlay and the Superintendent, be appointed to select power to act and rent suitable office space and see that the same is properly equipped to carry on the work of the Society. And we further recommend that, as far as possible, we comply with the said rules and regulations of the Department, and we further ask that this committee continue to work out the policy and to bring before the Board its recommendations and findings from time to time, and ask further that Mr. J.B. Findlay and Mrs. F.S. Anderson, who have met with us at the invitation of the Chairman at the last two meetings, be added to the committee.

Mrs. J.A. McFee
Secretary Signed on behalf of the Committee

On December, 1935 Mr. Heise, Provincial Superintendent, issued us a letter of commendation to our Society of the efforts put forth to raise our grading to a Grade “C”. The finance committee recommends that as the Children’s Aid Society of Belleville, Hastings and Trenton has been raised to the grade C, the Superintendent is entitled to an extra grant of $500.00 per annum from the government, that the Superintendent’s salary, including this grant, be $200.00 per month.

In January of 1936 Rev. Payne gave notice of motion to be brought before our next meeting of the following change to be made in the constitution:

1. that the day of the meeting to be changed to accommodate members of the finance meeting
2. that membership of Society officers be amended to include two representatives from City Council of Belleville, two representatives from County Council, two representatives from the Town of Trenton
3. that end of fiscal year be changed to March 31

1936 – Children are now being boarded out. A maximum of three staff will stay at the Shelter when there are 30 children in residence.