After 15 years at the helm of Eagle’s Nest Association of Waterdown, founder and executive director Debra Tigchelaar is handing over the reins.
Effective July 2, Amanda DeVries will assume the role of executive director, while Tigchelaar will become executive director emeritus and remain with Eagle’s Nest in a part-time role until April 2020.
Tigchelaar said Eagle’s Nest put together a four-year plan in 2016 — which included succession planning in 2020. However, the news of the closure of Drummond House at the end of 2019, after 15 years, moved up the timeline for succession.
“It’s just a really good season to pass the baton on to Amanda,” she said. “I’ll be staying on part time and helping with things.”
The organization began in 2002 with Tigchelaar’s vision for a Christian transitional home for women and children and after three years of fundraising — and the donation of a large century home on Drummond Farms by Ross and Linda Drummond — the house was renovated and opened in 2005.
Since then, Eagle’s Nest has grown to include Rescued and Restored in 2010 and the Home of Practical Education (HOPE) Centre, in 2017. Rescued and Restored, located in Freelton, is a reuse centre designed to financially support the programs of Eagle’s Nest, while the HOPE Centre was donated by Bethel Church and built with the idea to provide holistic support to every member of the family coming from oppressive situations
DeVries, who hails from Waterdown, has a background in teaching but more recently spent 10 years in Mexico working with Indigenous children in orphanages and designing educational programs.
“It was always my dream and passion to work with kids and help them reach their fullest potential,” she said. “I have worked with a lot of kids at risk."
DeVries, who first came on board with Eagle’s nest over two years ago to work with children, said she is honoured to move into the role of executive director, adding she’s been able to work closely alongside Tigchelaar for close to two years.
“There’s something beautiful about this transition because we do know each other and how each other works,” she said. “We have an amazing team of people on staff.
“There is such great potential and possibility for the future.”
She said although transition and change comes with challenges — and the loss of Drummond House is certainly a challenge — there are exciting things ahead. She stressed that despite the loss of Drummond House, Eagle’s Nest is in a good place and has plans to strengthen the HOPE Centre.
“The support from the community, despite the transitions that are happening, has been phenomenal.”
Tigchelaar said ever since DeVries joined the organization and they saw her capabilities, she knew DeVries would be her successor.
“She’s been under my wing for a while — and I would say surpassed my wing,” she said. “I believe God brought Amanda to our organization for such a time as this.”
While she admitted she will miss Eagle’s Nest, it was a good time for her to move on — and to have DeVries succeed her.
“I really admire her heart — her heart is like mine very much in helping women and children,” she said of DeVries. “To pass the baton to someone that you believe in, you know that she gets it and you know that she’s going to carry it on is a really wonderful thing.”
After 15 years at the helm of Eagle’s Nest Association of Waterdown, founder and executive director Debra Tigchelaar is handing over the reins.
Effective July 2, Amanda DeVries will assume the role of executive director, while Tigchelaar will become executive director emeritus and remain with Eagle’s Nest in a part-time role until April 2020.
Tigchelaar said Eagle’s Nest put together a four-year plan in 2016 — which included succession planning in 2020. However, the news of the closure of Drummond House at the end of 2019, after 15 years, moved up the timeline for succession.
“It’s just a really good season to pass the baton on to Amanda,” she said. “I’ll be staying on part time and helping with things.”
The organization began in 2002 with Tigchelaar’s vision for a Christian transitional home for women and children and after three years of fundraising — and the donation of a large century home on Drummond Farms by Ross and Linda Drummond — the house was renovated and opened in 2005.
Since then, Eagle’s Nest has grown to include Rescued and Restored in 2010 and the Home of Practical Education (HOPE) Centre, in 2017. Rescued and Restored, located in Freelton, is a reuse centre designed to financially support the programs of Eagle’s Nest, while the HOPE Centre was donated by Bethel Church and built with the idea to provide holistic support to every member of the family coming from oppressive situations
DeVries, who hails from Waterdown, has a background in teaching but more recently spent 10 years in Mexico working with Indigenous children in orphanages and designing educational programs.
“It was always my dream and passion to work with kids and help them reach their fullest potential,” she said. “I have worked with a lot of kids at risk."
DeVries, who first came on board with Eagle’s nest over two years ago to work with children, said she is honoured to move into the role of executive director, adding she’s been able to work closely alongside Tigchelaar for close to two years.
“There’s something beautiful about this transition because we do know each other and how each other works,” she said. “We have an amazing team of people on staff.
“There is such great potential and possibility for the future.”
She said although transition and change comes with challenges — and the loss of Drummond House is certainly a challenge — there are exciting things ahead. She stressed that despite the loss of Drummond House, Eagle’s Nest is in a good place and has plans to strengthen the HOPE Centre.
“The support from the community, despite the transitions that are happening, has been phenomenal.”
Tigchelaar said ever since DeVries joined the organization and they saw her capabilities, she knew DeVries would be her successor.
“She’s been under my wing for a while — and I would say surpassed my wing,” she said. “I believe God brought Amanda to our organization for such a time as this.”
While she admitted she will miss Eagle’s Nest, it was a good time for her to move on — and to have DeVries succeed her.
“I really admire her heart — her heart is like mine very much in helping women and children,” she said of DeVries. “To pass the baton to someone that you believe in, you know that she gets it and you know that she’s going to carry it on is a really wonderful thing.”
After 15 years at the helm of Eagle’s Nest Association of Waterdown, founder and executive director Debra Tigchelaar is handing over the reins.
Effective July 2, Amanda DeVries will assume the role of executive director, while Tigchelaar will become executive director emeritus and remain with Eagle’s Nest in a part-time role until April 2020.
Tigchelaar said Eagle’s Nest put together a four-year plan in 2016 — which included succession planning in 2020. However, the news of the closure of Drummond House at the end of 2019, after 15 years, moved up the timeline for succession.
“It’s just a really good season to pass the baton on to Amanda,” she said. “I’ll be staying on part time and helping with things.”
The organization began in 2002 with Tigchelaar’s vision for a Christian transitional home for women and children and after three years of fundraising — and the donation of a large century home on Drummond Farms by Ross and Linda Drummond — the house was renovated and opened in 2005.
Since then, Eagle’s Nest has grown to include Rescued and Restored in 2010 and the Home of Practical Education (HOPE) Centre, in 2017. Rescued and Restored, located in Freelton, is a reuse centre designed to financially support the programs of Eagle’s Nest, while the HOPE Centre was donated by Bethel Church and built with the idea to provide holistic support to every member of the family coming from oppressive situations
DeVries, who hails from Waterdown, has a background in teaching but more recently spent 10 years in Mexico working with Indigenous children in orphanages and designing educational programs.
“It was always my dream and passion to work with kids and help them reach their fullest potential,” she said. “I have worked with a lot of kids at risk."
DeVries, who first came on board with Eagle’s nest over two years ago to work with children, said she is honoured to move into the role of executive director, adding she’s been able to work closely alongside Tigchelaar for close to two years.
“There’s something beautiful about this transition because we do know each other and how each other works,” she said. “We have an amazing team of people on staff.
“There is such great potential and possibility for the future.”
She said although transition and change comes with challenges — and the loss of Drummond House is certainly a challenge — there are exciting things ahead. She stressed that despite the loss of Drummond House, Eagle’s Nest is in a good place and has plans to strengthen the HOPE Centre.
“The support from the community, despite the transitions that are happening, has been phenomenal.”
Tigchelaar said ever since DeVries joined the organization and they saw her capabilities, she knew DeVries would be her successor.
“She’s been under my wing for a while — and I would say surpassed my wing,” she said. “I believe God brought Amanda to our organization for such a time as this.”
While she admitted she will miss Eagle’s Nest, it was a good time for her to move on — and to have DeVries succeed her.
“I really admire her heart — her heart is like mine very much in helping women and children,” she said of DeVries. “To pass the baton to someone that you believe in, you know that she gets it and you know that she’s going to carry it on is a really wonderful thing.”